Thurles Information

A member of the ruthless Dublin gang, who viciously attacked the home of Mark and Emma Corcoran, at Burnchurch, Killenaule, South Tipperary; the former armed with a sawn-off shotgun, a handgun and a machete, has himself been assaulted in prison.

Mr Donal O’Hara, aged 24, had 19 previous convictions before being jailed for five years. The combined involved criminal gang in this case, who had more than 300 combined convictions, were imprisoned for a total of 72 years, back in October 2015.

In a recent prison attack, Mr O’Hara, is understood to have had the tendons in his arm severed, while being beaten with metal poles. Same violent attack is understood to have been carried out in retaliation for an attack on an unnamed female. From investigations carried out by the authorities; it is believed that the attack was instigated by some of Mr O’Hara’s former associates, who are believed to have initiated a “€5,000 hit” on Mr O’Hara.

Mr Donal O’Hara then aged 21, with an address at Glin Park, Coolock, Dublin 17; together with Mr Dean Byrne aged 21 of Cabra Park, Dublin 7, Mr Patrick Gately, aged 26 of Primrose Grove, Darndale, Dublin 17; Mr John Joyce aged 19, of The Donaghies, Donaghmede, Dublin; Mr Patrick Joyce aged 21, of Beaumont Hall, Beaumont Woods, Dublin 9;  Mr Thomas Flynn aged 19, of Moatview Avenue, Coolock, Dublin 17 and Mr Michael McDonagh aged 22, of Tara Lawns, Belcamp Lane, Coolock, Dublin 17; sought cash and valuables when they burst into the Corcoran family’s home on November 21st 2013; threatening to kill their three young kids, aged eight, six and two.

A quick thinking Mrs Corcoran managed to dial 999, and leave her mobile phone switched on for some seven minutes, thus allowing Gardaí to eavesdrop on what was happening, as this crime progressed. During the incident Mr Corcoran was brutally assaulted and suffered a fractured eye socket and a broken nose.

Mr O’Hara has now been placed under protective custody while in prison.

Early this morning (12th July 2016), Gardaí arrested three men; all understood to be aged in their mid to late 30’s. The men were arrested as part of an ongoing investigation; targeting rural theft in the counties; Tipperary, Laois, Offaly, Carlow and Kilkenny.

Shortly after midnight and early this morning, a vehicle (4×4), believed to have been stolen in Co. Laois back in late June 2016, failed to stop for Gardaí at a road checkpoint set up in the vicinity of Cloncourse, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.  The stolen vehicle rammed a marked Garda car, while also colliding with a second Garda vehicle. The occupants, three men, then fled from the 4×4 vehicle into nearby farm land. A Garda Air Support Unit and Gardaí on the ground immediately searched the area, later arrested all three suspects.

Those arrested were taken to Garda Stations at Portlaoise and Tullamore; detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

The scene was immediately preserved for a full technical examination. However four Gardaí are understood to have received non-life threatening injuries as a result of this incident; necessitating them to attend at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise. No other injuries have as yet been reported.

It is understood that a number of vehicles, trailers and other farm equipment have now been recovered during a planned follow up search connected with this morning’s operation. Same was facilitated by members from Garda Divisions in Tipperary, Laois/Offaly, and Carlow/Kildare who were assisted by units representing Regional and Garda Air Support.

The Garda press office have stated that all Gardaí are committed to remaining focused when dealing with travelling criminal gangs; while also working closely with agricultural representative organisations, e.g. IFA, ICMSA, to further raise awareness within the farming community in dealing with rural crime.

Mr Don Duggan

Mr Justice Thomas Teehan was correctly accepting no nonsense in Nenagh Court today, when it came to dealing with two individual burglary cases which were before him; their crimes previously committed in the Thurles Urban area.

Mr Don Duggan, a 28 year old Co. Cork man, with an address at No. 65, Ballinderry Park, Mayfield, Cork City, was sentenced to six years in prison for a number of thefts.  Mr Duggan, had pleaded guilty to stealing a motor vehicle and carrying out burglaries on three known dates in Thurles, during August 2015.

Mr Duggan had previously been charged with the unlawful taking of a vehicle at Thurles Railway Station and with using this vehicle, without the owner’s consent (which he crashed), at Springhill, Glanmire, Co. Cork. He had been further charged with the unlawful possession of a .22 calibre Anshutz rifle; three .22 calibre bullets and four unlawfully held shotgun cartridges, also at Springhill, Glanmire, on the same date; all contrary to Section 2 of the Firearms Act.

Judge Teehan learned that Mr Duggan, had some 116 previously known convictions and was already serving a prison sentence for yet other crime, with sentencing not due to expire until October of 2020. Passing sentence, Judge Teehan therefore directed that this new six year sentence, (which had the final three years suspended), should not commence until the expiry date of Mr Duggan’s current jail term, due to expire in some three and a half years time.

A victim impact statement read out by one of Mr Duggan’s victims; a 75 year old lady living alone, no doubt received his consideration prior his passing sentence in Nenagh today.

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In yet another case, Mr Noel O’Shaughnessy, a 49 year old man, with an address at No. 7, Farran Ferris Park, Farranree, Co. Cork, was jailed for three years for a burglary at Mr Lar Corbett’s Bar; committed at the end of August 2015.

Mr O’Shaughnessy, who had 188 recognised previous convictions and was already out on bail for another crime at the time of this particular incident, also pleaded guilty to one count of burglary in “Lar Corbett’s” at Coppinger’s Bar, Parnell Street, Thurles; during which a sum of money was stolen.

In February of this year Mr O’Shaughnessy had previously appeared before Killorglin District Court, charged with the theft of two Munster Final match tickets, a woman’s handbag containing €1,165, an iPhone and other items, during his visits to the Nike Killarney Store and a Killarney pub, respectively, in August of last year.

Judge Tom Teehan today sentenced Mr O’Shaughnessy to seven years imprisonment; with his incarceration beginning from today; four years of which was suspended.