Crime « Thurles Information

Commissioner Drew Harris Warns Of Sinister Agenda Causing Fear In Communities.

Attestation Of New Garda Members Welcomed At Templemore Co. Tipperary Training College.

24 Gardaí – 6 women and 18 men – attested in Templemore today.
Further recruitment campaign to be launched in the coming months to build stronger, safer communities.
1,000 new Gardaí to be recruited this year under Budget 2023.
200 recruits to enter Garda college every 11 weeks from next month.

The Minister for Justice, Mr Simon Harris TD, has welcomed the attestations of 24 members of An Garda Síochána at the Garda College, Templemore today, ahead of a significant acceleration of recruitment this year.

The newly attested members have now completed their training and will be placed in Garda Divisions throughout the country.

Minister Harris said: “I want to congratulate the recruits passing out in Templemore today. Their commitment to the security of the people of Ireland and to building stronger, safer communities is something which is to be commended and which we are all grateful for.
An Garda Síochána works tirelessly to ensure that people all over the country can go about their daily lives safely and securely. Much of this Trojan work goes unseen, and occasions like today’s attestation ceremony are important opportunities to recognise and acknowledge the efforts of our Gardaí.
In return, it is the role of Government to support the work of An Garda Síochána and my Department is committed to providing that support by way of unprecedented funding and strong legislation.
I particularly welcome that, from next month, we will see 200 recruits enter the college every 11 weeks to meet our target, funded in Budget 2023, of recruiting 1,000 new Gardaí in 2023.
In the coming months, we will launch a new recruitment campaign for An Garda Síochána to ensure we have a steady pipeline of recruits entering Templemore over the coming years.
I wish the new recruits every success in their careers.”

Budget 2023 reflects the commitment of Government to ensuring that our communities are safe and that An Garda Síochána has the resources required to operate effectively.
The budget provided by Government to the Garda Commissioner continues to increase to unprecedented levels, with an allocation of €2.14 billion for 2023.
In recent weeks, Minister Harris also announced an additional capital allocation of €21.5 million to support significant investment in a replacement helicopter and fixed wing plane for An Garda Síochána.

While recruitment was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, today’s group of new recruits is one in a steady stream of groups which will continue to join the ranks of An Garda Síochána regularly throughout this year and the years to come.
The first recruits from the 2022 recruitment campaign will begin their training in Templemore soon and a new recruitment campaign will launch in the coming months.

Of the 24 attesting today, 18 are men, 6 are women, with 4 of the new recruits born outside of the Irish State.

Far-right individuals causing fear and concern within Irish communities.

Also in attendance and speaking at the garda graduation ceremony in Templemore, Co. Tipperary was the Garda Commissioner Mr Drew Harris. Speaking on RTE News this evening and referring to a number of demonstrations which have taken place recently, against the housing of refugees and asylum seekers in Dublin; Commissioner Harris confirmed that inquiries are ongoing into what he described as “a small number of far-right individuals”, who have and are using public protests to pursue their own sinister agendas, thus through misinformation are disrupting and causing considerable fear and concern within certain communities.

Commissioner Harris said that while most protests remain peaceful, Gardaí have become strongly aware of what is actually happening on the ground and also in the background. Gardaí are continuing their inquiries into these protest groups, who are known to have alternative motives. He further stated that such motives were being driven by prejudice and have a sinister agenda, adding that Gardaí will act when there is a breach of the criminal law.
Video footage of these protests, randomly shared on social media by individuals, regrettably, fails to explain what is truely going on behind the scenes.

Thefts Of Home Heating Oil In Tipperary.

Gardaí in Tipperary are appealing to the public to be vigilant following a number of thefts of home heating oil in the past number of days.

Gardaí advise householders to check the oil levels in their tanks on a regular basis and where possible, arrange for smaller deliveries.
Security perimeter lighting should be increased around homes and shrubs or fencing erected where possible to screen the view of any oil tanks from the public road.

If you notice any suspicious vehicles in your estate or in the vicinity of your land, please note the registration plates and contact your local Garda Station as soon as possible.

Tipperary Town Garda Station, where thefts have been already reported, can be contacted on Tel No: 062-80670 or alternatively any information can be given to the Garda Confidential Line Tel No: 1800-666-111.

DrugWipe Tests Identify Tipperary Drug Drivers.

Tipperary Roads Policing Unit, in the last number of days, patrolling the Roscrea area, identified a motor vehicle attempting to evade Gardaí.
The vehicle was halted before being seized for no Insurance, no NCT and no Motor Tax. The driver of the vehicle was also arrested on suspicion of Drug Driving, having failed a DrugWipe test for Cannabis.

On January 7th last, Tipperary Roads Policing Unit halted a vehicle for having a densely tinted windscreen and side windows. An examination which was carried out, confirmed that the driver, as a result of the tinting, had poor visibility of the roadway, which is both illegal and constituted a danger to other road users.
The driver was also arrested on suspicion of Drug Driving, having failed a DrugWipe test for Cocaine.

Teenagers In Tipperary Hospitalised After Eating Sweets Containing Synthetic Cannabinoids.

Over the Christmas festival period, here in Co. Tipperary, three teenagers have been reported as hospitalised, having eaten jellies containing synthetic cannabinoids.

We understand that two of the teenagers became seriously ill after consuming this product; packaged as “Jolly Rancher Jellies” and sold as Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) edibles.

Question: So what are Synthetic Cannabinoids?
Answer: Chemicals designed to act like the main psychoactive chemical in cannabis, and also called Amsterdam Gold; Annihilation; Black Mamba; Blue Cheese; Bombay Blue Extreme; X; Clockwork Orange; Devil’s Weed; Ecsess; Exodus Damnation; K2; Mary Joy; Spice; and Tai High Hawaiian Haze.

The effects of consuming Synthetic Cannabinoids are similar to smoking cannabis but stronger. Side effects can include:- known associated death; acute kidney injury; nausea, vomiting and mood swings; sweating and tingly feelings in fingers and toes; loss of muscle coordination; a worsening of mental health; a triggering of psychotic episodes which can last for weeks; memory problems, and dependence on the use of synthetic cannabinoids, if used regularly.

As we stated yesterday, a search by Gardaí of a house in the Clonmel area of Tipperary on New Year’s Eve resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of suspected cannabis-infused edibles; including cash and vape oil.

The seized products have now been submitted to Forensic Science Ireland for further analysis and Gardaí are advising the public to seek immediate medical attention if others have consumed such products and are feeling unwell.

A Garda spokesperson has confirmed that a criminal investigation into this seizure is ongoing.
Gardaí are also appealing to anyone with information relating to this seizure, to contact them at Clonmel Garda Station, Tel. No: 052 617 7640, the Garda Confidential Line Tel: 1800 666 111 or indeed any Garda Station.

Tipperary Gardaí Seize Quantity Of Edibles Possibly Containing Synthetic Cannabinoids.

Gardaí in Co. Tipperary recently seized a large quantity of edibles suspected of containing synthetic cannabinoids.
An investigation into this product seizure, latter intended for sale or supply, remains ongoing.
If you have consumed any of these products and have become unwell, you are being asked to seek immediate urgent medical attention.

The HSE is currently concerned about the public health risks associated with synthetic cannabinoids appearing in jellies and sweets, being sold as Tetrahydrocannbinol (THC) edibles in Ireland.

Today January 6th 2023, the HSE National Social Inclusion Office has issued a risk communication on the emergence of synthetic cannabinoids appearing in cannabis and THC products. A small number of hospitalisations have occurred following the consumption of edible products (Jolly Rancher jellies) during the period of December 2022, here in the Tipperary Region.

Note: Upon analysis from Forensic Science Ireland, these edible products have been found to contain new and risky substances known as synthetic cannabinoids.

Synthetic cannabinoids are man-made chemicals produced to mimic the effects of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. Often, products do not contain THC, but instead, they can contain a synthetic cannabinoid which will produce similar, more potent effects. They will greatly increase the risks of a drug emergency occurring, because they produce more intense adverse effects. Their use has caused many serious poisonings, mass poisonings and deaths internationally in recent years.

There has been increased concern in Ireland and throughout Europe regarding the emergence of synthetic cannabinoids, contained within products sold as cannabis or THC edibles and a number of warnings have been issued throughout Europe to raise awareness among the general public, including warnings from the Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland. The HSE have previously expressed concern in relation to the risk of synthetic cannabinoids appearing in herbal (plant material),vape liquid/oil, edible and other THC products in Ireland through their website Drugs.ie.

It is anticipated that counterfeit edible products available on the market are made in clandestine laboratories and the potency and contents of products cannot be guaranteed. A number of these products seized recently have been analysed by Forensic Science Ireland and have been found to contain only new and extra risky synthetic cannabinoids and not in fact any THC as indicted on the packaging.

Synthetic cannabinoid exposure: signs for concern:

Feeling dizzy, confusion, abnormal sweating, respiratory issues (difficulty breathing or lack of breathing), chest pain/rapid heartbeat, nausea and vomiting, agitation, aggression, psychotic behaviour, hallucinations, delusions, seizures or fits. They can also lead to sudden loss of consciousness.

The HSE advise the public that there is a high level of risk associated with THC edibles currently being sold illegally in Ireland, as on occasion they do not contain THC but instead contain a synthetic cannabinoid.

For people who use cannabis, we remind them of the current risk of synthetic cannabinoid exposure and encourage people not to be afraid or hesitate to get medical help, if someone has an unexpected reaction or becomes physically or mentally unwell, following use.