Crime « Thurles Information

Man Aged In 80s Critical After Assault In Tipperary Town Centre.

A man in his 80s is in critical condition after an assault in Tipperary town, Co. Tipperary last night.

The attack happened on St Michael’s Avenue in the town at approximately 9:35pm.

The elderly man was taken to Limerick University Hospital, Limerick City, where we understand he remains critically ill.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses, especially anyone in the area between 7:00pm and 10:00pm, and who may have camera or vehicle dash-cam footage.

Information can be given to Tipperary Town Garda Station Tel: 062 80670, the Garda Confidential Line Tel: 1800 666 111, or indeed any Garda station.

Investigations are continuing.

UPDATE

A man in his 30s has now been arrested in connection with the above incident. He is presently being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in County Tipperary.
Gardaí have already conducted door-to-door enquiries in the area, having preserved the scene for a detailed forensic examination.
One line of investigation suggests that the victim may have disturbed intruders.
An Garda Síochána are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness.

Man Arrested After Suspected €5,000 Drug Seizure in Tipperary.

Suspected cocaine, cash and drug paraphernalia recovered during planned Garda search.

Gardaí have arrested a man following the seizure of suspected drugs worth more than €5,000, in Tipperary Town.

At around 2.30pm on Wednesday, September 10th, members of the Divisional Drugs Unit, assisted by the Community Policing Unit, carried out a search at a house in the Glenview Square area of the town.

During the search, Gardaí seized suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of €5,000. The substance has been sent to Forensic Science Ireland, latter an associated office of the Department of Justice, for analysis.

More than €1,100 in cash was also seized, along with weighing scales, plastic bags and other drug paraphernalia.

A man in his 40s was arrested at the scene and is currently being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda station in County Tipperary.

Garda investigations are continuing.

EPA Again Confirm Tipperary Co. Council Is To Blame For River Suir Pollution.

EPA Quote “This is now a matter for Tipperary County Council to investigate and take action.……”

On September 4th, 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed that Tipperary Co. Council are directly responsible for failure to protect the River Suir from pollution here in Thurles. (Complaint Ref. COM021813).

This firm confirmation came about, following a complaint made by Thurles.Info, asking that the EPA prosecute Tipperary County Council for their inability and failure to control the pollution of the River Suir over the past 12 years.

**One small section of Suir riverbed in Thurles town centre. This area is governed by a Municipal District by-law** **(latter a regulation made by a local authority**), **banning the consumption of alcohol in a public place.**

The following communication was received from the EPA today, September 9th 2025, which we now publish hereunder in full.

To the complainant, Thurles.Info:-

Dear Sir,
Further to our previous correspondence with you relating to the above referenced matter, we acknowledge receipt of your permission to refer it to Tipperary County Council on your behalf.

We have now sent a copy of your correspondence to Tipperary County Council for their attention and action. We have also requested that they contact you directly, regarding this issue.

Please note, a referral from the EPA obliges the local authority to log the complaint, open a case file, investigate the matter and report back to the complainant (you in this instance) as to any assessment or action either planned or taken.

This is now a matter for Tipperary County Council to investigate and take action as appropriate as they are the responsible authority.
Please continue to engage directly with Tipperary County Council any further enquiries regarding this matter for their attention and direct response to you.

As requested, please find attached copy of correspondence from the EPA to Tipperary County Council, our Ref COM021813.

Please use the reference number above in any further communication with the EPA regarding this matter.

Trusting this is of assistance to you.
Yours etc (Name withheld)

Correspondence forwarded to Tipperary County Council by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Subject: COM021813 Alleged pollution of river Suir in Thurles, Co Tipperary.
Environmental Complaints E.Complaints@epa.ie (Name withheld)

To customerservices@tipperarycoco.ie.

To Tipperary County Council,
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received correspondence on 01/09/2025 relating to concern regarding alleged pollution of river Suir in Thurles, Co Tipperary. Our Ref COM021813.

Please see attached copy for your attention and action.

Tipperary County Council should take steps to investigate this matter using appropriate enforcement actions. Your Council is also requested to directly contact the complainant in relation to this matter and to advise them how Tipperary County Council is investigating and dealing with the complaint.

Please use the reference number above in all further correspondence with the EPA regarding this matter.

Kind regards, etc (Name withheld).

This will now be the second case-file opened within the last 10 days, with no action taken in relation to this major problem in Thurles and no communication, as yet and as usual, entered into by Tipperary Co. Council.

Teen Refused Bail Charged With Murder Of Tipperary Man Met On Grindr.

A 19-year-old teenager has been charged with the murder of Tipperary resident Mr Ian Walsh, latter found dead in his Carrick-on-Suir home, in Co. Tipperary, on August 4th last.

Mr Nathan Hanlon, allegedly, is understood to have met the 49-year-old victim on the dating application ‘Grindr’, before Mr Walsh picked him up in the early hours of August 2nd last.

Mr Walsh’s body, sadly, was later discovered with multiple stab wounds in his bathroom. Gardaí have also not established, as yet, a motive for the crime, which reportedly showed no signs of being premeditated.

The High Court heard evidence linking Mr Hanlon to the scene, including fingerprints, DNA on clothing, and CCTV showing him leaving the estate with bags that Gardaí believe were later discarded in the River Suir in Tipperary.
Items located following a search at his family home also contained traces of blood, though the suspected murder weapon has not, as yet, been recovered.

Gardaí opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the charge and strength of the gathered evidence.
Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford refused Mr Hanlon’s bail application, adjourning the case until later this month.

“You Will Die in Prison”, A Tipperary Story – RTÉ One Tonight -10:35pm.

“You Will Die in Prison”, is a Tipperary man’s true story, which will be featured on RTÉ One Tonight, September 3rd, at 10:35pm.

A Tipperary man, wrongly imprisoned in Iran, states that he continues to suffer following his treatment in an Iranian prison. Mr Bernard Phelan, a Tipperary man who spent some seven months in an Iranian prison, has said the trauma of his ordeal continues to affect both him and his family.

Mr Phelan, originally from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, revealed that he recently suffered a stroke, which doctors have conclusively linked to post-traumatic stress disorder.

The 65-year-old, who holds both Irish and French citizenship, had been travelling to Iran since 2017, first as a tourist and later to develop trekking holidays. In October 2023, he was arrested, accused of providing information to an enemy state, before being held in prison until May of 2023. He was forced to go on hunger strike, before finally being pardoned and released on humanitarian grounds.

Speaking about his time in captivity, Mr Phelan said he was haunted by fears that his father would die before his release. Their reunion following his eventual return was he stated, “deeply moving”.
He later got a chance to meet President Michael D Higgins, latter who failed to criticise Iran for its constant call for the total destruction of the state of Israel and for its funding and the arming of terrorist organisations, namely Hamas and Hezbollah, not to mention its violations of human rights against its very own citizens.
In mid-2024, Irish President Mr Higgins had written to Iran’s new president Mr Masoud Pezeshkian to congratulate him on his new appointment. The letter was not officially published by the President’s office, but was circulated online and received some criticism, including from members within Fine Gael, who rightly accused President Higgins of being “tone deaf” to civil rights issues within Iran.
Former Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Charlie Flanagan had rightly informed the Press that he felt Mr Higgins’ views on Iran were “somewhat misplaced”.
The Irish President then falsely accused the Israeli embassy in Ireland of circulating the letter, when in fact it was proven to have been circulated by the Iranian embassy as a “Look Ireland Supports Iran” PR stunt.

Mr Phelan now called for stronger EU action in securing the release of European citizens wrongly imprisoned abroad. Mr Phelan believes, and with justification, that European citizens are not being helped by EU authorities.

His story will be told in a new RTÉ documentary entitled, “You Will Die in Prison”, being airing tonight on RTÉ One at 10.35pm.