Thurles Information

The acting Garda Commissioner has announced an array of changes to the vehicle Penalty Points system. Same comes in the wake of a report from the Garda Inspectorate examining the force’s current operations.

Top-ranking Gardaí in district police stations around Ireland have now officially lost their previous powers to delete penalty points incurred by drivers of motorised vehicles, under this new range of reforms contained in this latest review.

The acting Garda Commissioner M/s Noirin O’Sullivan, has now officially transferred this power to the Central Fixed Charge Processing Office here in Thurles, Co Tipperary.  M/s O’Sullivan has stated that these measures demonstrate the force’s commitment to improving the effectiveness and transparency of the penalty points system.

Persons who believe their penalty points should be legally removed will now have to apply directly to the Thurles office, using a new cancellation form, latter to be made available on the Garda website.

The change follows allegations of corruption within the Penalty Points system and will also see more regular audits of how the system is managed into the future. Mr Robert Olson, Chief Inspector of the Garda Siochána Inspectorate, has stated that all the information given to the Garda Inspectorate from Sergeant Maurice McCabe; regarding the cancellation of Penalty Points, was found to be credible.

Whether more staff will now be provided to carry out this new proposed function is as yet uncertain.

Gardaí in Thurles are once again warning householders to be on the lookout for a male confidence trickster operating in the Thurles area, following the latest in a spate of such incidents which happened yesterday in Thurles.

Gardaí describe the trickster as being of medium height, clean shaven, with sallow skin and brown hair. The culprit is understood to be aged somewhere between 25 and 40 years and as of yesterday was wearing blue jeans and a black and red t-shirt. He was also wearing around his neck, what appeared to be an identification tag; the sort used by those perhaps attending conferences or worn by security officers at pop concerts.

The man called to a number of houses in the Kickham Street area of Thurles yesterday and succeeded in gaining access to at least one home, claiming to be a plain clothed Garda investigating a recent incident in the area. During this visit he succeeded in stealing a sum of money.

This incident is the just the latest in a spate of such incidents in Co Tipperary in recent weeks where such confidence tricksters have targeted the homes of mainly elderly people, however investigating Gardaí at this stage are unable to confirm if these similar incidents are linked or if the work of a larger gang.

In a more recent case in Thurles the culprit claimed to be from Irish Water and sought permission to check water pressure in taps and radiators.

Speaking to Thurles.Info early this morning, Thurles Gardaí advise all home owners to be more alert when admitting unknown individuals into their homes and are asking those so approached to immediately call their nearest Garda station and report all such suspicious behaviour.

Thurles Gardaí are anxious to speak to anyone with information regarding these incidents. Call Thurles Gardaí at Tel: 0504-25100, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666111 or indeed any Garda Station.

For More click HERE for update.