Crime « Thurles Information

New Central Criminal Court Protocol To Expedite Rape & Murder Cases.

Today, (Friday February 21st), marks the launch of a new Central Criminal Court protocol at the Criminal Courts of Justice, to expedite rape and murder cases, latter involving victims and defendants under 18 years of age.

The protocol was drafted by a working group established in April 2024, chaired by Judge Caroline Biggs. The work was undertaken under the aegis of the Criminal Justice Users’ group which is convened by Judge Paul McDermott. The aim of the protocol is to expedite rape and murder cases involving victims and defendants under 18 years of age.
The protocol recognises children’s vulnerability and that delays in the criminal justice system can be detrimental to child victims and child defendants.

The protocol states that in cases involving rape or/and murder involving victims and defendants under 18 years of age reduced timelines for a case to go to trial should be adhered to. The expedited timeline would be 52 weeks approximately and apply to cases in the Central Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ).

As part of the protocol a ‘Court Accompaniment Support Worker’ will be provided for child offenders by the Youth Diversion Projects funded by the Department of Justice. The Court accompaniment is not an advocacy role, but they will explain in laypersons terms, to the young defendant what is happening at various stages of the court proceedings.

New Youth Diversion Projects for Clare and Tipperary.

New Youth Diversion Projects for Tipperary and Clare have been announced.

New projects will achieve Government ambition of nationwide access to YDP services for every young person who needs it.
Foróige chosen to operate new YDPs in East Clare and North Tipperary.

Two new successful applications have been chosen in North Tipperary and East Clare. Following an open application and appraisal process, Foróige have been chosen to operate both projects.

The announcement of the new YDPs will achieve the target as set out in the Youth Justice Strategy of full national coverage of YDPs, ensuring that a service is available to every young person who needs it.
There are currently 100 YDPs throughout the State, including four new projects which were established in 2023, which are now up and running.

Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) work with young people at risk of crime and anti-social behaviour to divert them away from criminal behaviour and towards better life outcomes.
Funding for YDPs and other Youth Justice measures have increased substantially in recent years, from €18 million in 2020, to a total allocation of just over €33 million in Budget 2025.

The two new YDPs will be part of a wider Joint Commissioning initiative to trial a new collaborative approach to commissioning of relevant services in six pilot areas based on an agreed assessment of the needs of local young people. This approach aims to enhance communication and collaboration between agencies based on principles of the best interest of children and young people.

Youth Diversion Projects are co-funded by the Irish Taxpayers and the European Social Fund, as part of the ESF+ Programme 2021-2027.

2025 Garda Recruitment Campaign Announced.

The 2025 Garda recruitment campaign will open for applications on February 6th, 2025, for a 3 week period.
New trainees eligible for increased training allowance of €354.00 per week.

The provision of more than €2.48 billion in Budget 2025, will support the recruitment of new Garda members, Garda staff and Garda Reserves. The Programme for Government also commits to providing funding to recruit at least 5,000 new Gardaí over the next five years.

Recruitment into An Garda Síochána has accelerated following the forced closure of the Templemore, Co. Tipperary, Garda College during the pandemic. The 2024 Garda recruitment campaign received a strong response, with almost 6,400 applications, one third of which were from the 35-49 age group. That was the first time that those aged over 35 could apply.

The new Programme for Government outlines a number of measures intended to strengthen An Garda Síochána; expand the organisation’s resources and modernise support to tackle crime.
These include:

A reform of the Garda recruitment and training processes to increase capacity.
Examining the introduction of an accelerated graduate entry programme to An Garda Síochána.
Implementation of a new Garda Capital Plan to deliver modern, well-equipped Garda stations across the country.

Prospective candidates can visit publicjobs.ie in the coming days, hopefully, for more information on how to apply.

Drugs With A Street Value Of €200,000 Seized In Cashel, Co. Tipperary.

One man has been arrested after the seizure of approximately 10kg of herbal cannabis, with an estimated street value of some €200,000, in the town of Cashel, South Co. Tipperary.

This seizure was conducted following a joint operation undertaken by Revenue’s Customs Service, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) and the Tipperary Divisional Drugs Unit.

Following an intelligence-led operation Gardaí arrested a man, understood to be aged in his 30s, in connection with this incident.

He currently remains detained at a Garda Station in Co Tipperary, held under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

Garda investigations are continuing.
This seizure is part of ongoing joint investigations involving organised crime groups and the importation, sale and supply of illegal drugs.

Independence Day.

The Independence Day song tells the sad story of a mother and daughter living with an abusive husband, told through the eyes of a young girl.
On July 4th, [Independence Day (United States)] the child walks down to the fairgrounds and while she is out, her mother burns down their house, with herself and her husband inside, thus achieving her own “Independence Day.”

Lyrics: Retired American singer and songwriter Gretchen Peters.
Vocals: Powerful voice of American country/pop singer and songwriter Martina Mariea McBride.

Independence Day.

Well, she seemed all right by dawn’s early light,
Though she looked a little worried and weak.
She tried to pretend he wasn’t drinkin’ again,
But daddy left the proof on her cheek,
I was only eight years old that summer,
And I always seemed to be in the way,
So I took myself down to the fair in town,
On Independence Day.

Well, word gets around in a small, small town,
They said he was a dangerous man,
But mama was proud and she stood her ground,
She knew she was on the losin’ end.
Some folks whispered, some folks talked,
But everybody looked the other way,
And when time ran out there was no one about,
On Independence Day.

Let freedom ring, let the white dove sing,
Let the whole world know that today,
Is a day of reckoning.
Let the weak be strong, let the right be wrong,
Roll the stone away, let the guilty pay,
It’s Independence Day.

Well, she lit up the sky that fourth of July,
By the time that the firemen come.
They just put out the flames,
And took down some names,
And send me to the county home.
Now I ain’t sayin’ it’s right or it’s wrong,
But maybe it’s the only way.
Talk about your revolution,
It’s Independence Day.

Let freedom ring, let the white dove sing,
Let the whole world know that today,
Day of reckoning.
Let the weak be strong, let the right be wrong,
Roll the stone away, let the guilty pay,
It’s Independence Day.
Roll the stone away,
It’s Independence Day.

END.