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A report made to Gardaí regarding a burglary, which occurred in the Fethard area of Co. Tipperary on October 10th last, has led to the arrest of two males.
As a consequence of this burglary, an all-terrain vehicle and other farming equipment had been stolen.
Clonmel Gardaí conducted an investigation which saw searches conducted at two locations in the wider South Tipperary area.
Same resulted in two males, both aged in their early 20’s, being arrested yesterday, October 19th, before being detained in Clonmel Garda Station.
The stolen all-terrain vehicle was also recovered at one of the locations searched.
Both arrested men have been charged to appear in court at a date in November next, in relation to this incident.
A Bill to overhaul Garda Compensation Scheme completes passage through the Oireachtas.
- Claim assessment time and legal costs to be reduced.
Minister for Justice Mrs Helen McEntee and Minister of State Mr James Browne are pleased to announce that the Garda Síochána (Compensation) Bill 2021 has completed all stages in the Oireachtas.
This Bill provides for a complete overhaul of the current Garda compensation scheme, which has been in operation since the 1940s.
The Garda Compensation Scheme is for members of An Garda Síochána who sustain personal injuries in the performance of their duties, to help affected members get support necessary for their recovery and compensate them for their injuries. The scheme is also open to dependants of deceased members of An Garda Síochána who were fatally injured while on duty, or while acting in their general capacity as a member, or merely because of their being a member of An Garda Síochána.
The main objectives of the Bill is to reduce the length of time it takes for Garda compensation claims to be dealt with from the initial application right through to the award of compensation and to reduce legal costs.
It also offers opportunities for settlement and resolution of claims much earlier in the process with cost savings for all of the parties involved. The Bill achieves this by setting out clear time limits in relation to each stage of the process and providing what will happen where those timelines are not met. It also aims to reduce the number of applications ultimately proceeding to court, which will in turn reduce the significant legal and administrative costs and lengthy delays associated with the current scheme.
A significant change in the new scheme is that where an assessment concludes that a member has been injured as a result of a malicious incident, and is therefore entitled to compensation, the Garda Commissioner will arrange for an application to be made on the claimant’s behalf to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) who will assess the claim on an independent and impartial basis. After a claim has been made to PIAB, the State Claims Agency will represent the Garda Commissioner.
The Personal Injuries Assessment Board is the independent state body which assesses personal injury claims. It was established to support the prompt and fair resolution of claims without the need for costly and lengthy litigation.
Welcoming the passing of the Bill today, Minister McEntee said: “We can all agree that members of An Garda Síochána do their utmost to tackle crime and to keep the public safe and I commend them on this.
Unfortunately, the nature of this work means that members of the Garda can suffer injuries, or in the most tragic cases, injuries causing death, and they, or their family members in the case of death, deserve to be compensated in recognition of this.
Having met the Garda representative organisations on a number of occasions since becoming Minister for Justice, I know this is an important issue to members, and I am delighted to see the legislation passed so we can move towards establishing a revised scheme that will better serve those who need to avail of it”.
Minister Browne commented: “This much anticipated Bill to reform the Garda Compensation Scheme is important, to not only those individuals on the frontline protecting and supporting our communities, but also their family members who feel the direct effect of when their loved ones are harmed while on duty. It is only right that when incidences like these occur that members and their families are redressed in a fair and efficient manner to avoid any further burden on the injured parties.
I cannot express enough the deep respect that we all have towards members of An Garda Síochána who, despite the now dangers involved with tackling criminal activity, go out to face it first-hand. I am pleased to have brought this Bill through the Houses and look forward to the revised scheme assisting in providing Gardaí with compensatory supports in a way that will lessen delays and financial costs that the now outdated procedures sometimes had on members in the past”.
Ministers McEntee and Browne look forward to early commencement of the Bill and express their thanks to their colleagues in both houses of the Oireachtas for their assistance in ensuring its timely delivery.
“Human trafficking is a problem, and it is happening in Ireland” – Minister Helen McEntee.
The Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee TD, has marked EU Anti-Trafficking Day , today, by stressing the importance of raising awareness of the issue, and the importance of sharing information, knowledge and best practices amongst various groups working to combat same.
EU Anti-Trafficking Day is marked on October 18th each year, and Minister McEntee is aware that vulnerable people are trafficked into Ireland for the purpose of exploitation, including sexual exploitation and forced criminality.
The Minister said: “Today is a fitting moment to highlight that this crime is happening and it’s happening across the EU, including in Ireland. Victims can be found anywhere, often hiding in plain sight.
The Government is determined to combat this insidious crime and to support those who are victims of it.
We are confident that the victim-centred policy approach we are taking will encourage more victims to come forward which will, in turn, strengthen prosecutions and convictions”.
There are a number of significant developments in the fight against human trafficking in Ireland including:
- A revised National Referral Mechanism, which will soon be put on a statutory footing, making it easier for victims of trafficking to come forward, be identified, and access support;
- The development of a new National Action Plan on human trafficking;
- The first convictions, in September of last year, for human trafficking;
- An increase in funding dedicated specifically to supporting victims of trafficking, and for public awareness and prevention efforts.
The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is the framework through which the State fulfils its obligations to protect and promote the human rights of trafficking victims, working in partnership with civil society.
The General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2022, published in July, will put a revised NRM on a statutory footing.
Currently An Garda Síochána is the sole competent authority for recognition of human trafficking victims. The revised NRM will include the full range of Government Departments and agencies that come into contact with potential victims, as well as designated NGOs, as members. This should make it easier for victims to come forward to seek protection and to access all of the supports and resources that are available to them.
Work to develop a new National Action Plan on human trafficking is at an advanced stage and is expected to be submitted for Government approval before the end of the year.
The Third National Strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence that Minister McEntee launched in June contains an action to identify linkages between the implementation plan accompanying the Strategy, and the National Action Plan, as well as ensuring actions to prevent prostitution and combat trafficking for sexual exploitation are addressed in an integrated manner.
Minister McEntee paid tribute to a wide range of partners across the public service providing care and practical support to trafficking victims, including An Garda Síochána, the HSE, the Legal Aid Board, the Immigration Service, and Tusla, as well as NGOs funded by the Department to provide support.
Acknowledging the launch today of a counter-trafficking awareness short film (Shown above) to highlight the risk of trafficking in Ireland, the Minister added: “For the past number of years my Department has engaged in a successful partnership with the International Organisation for Migration office here in Dublin to raise awareness that victims of trafficking can be found anywhere, often hidden in plain sight. The short film being launching today has a role in building this awareness.
“We want wider society to recognise the signs of human trafficking and to know what to do and where to go if they have concerns”.
Note: Between 2015 and 2020, 356 potential victims of trafficking were identified by the Irish authorities.
In 2016, The International Labour Organization estimated that 40.3 million persons were in situations of modern day slavery, with traffickers estimated to be coining more than €150 billion per year.
- 22 community projects to receive grants between €5,000 – €150,000
- Community Safety Innovation Fund reinvests proceeds of crime, as seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau, back into communities
- Funding will support delivery of innovative projects to build stronger, safer communities
- Fund increased to €3million next year under Budget 2023 – a 50 per cent increase
Minister for Justice Mrs Helen McEntee has today announced the allocation of grants totalling €2 million, to successful applicants to the Community Safety Innovation Fund.
It is the first round of grants given out since Minister McEntee and Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath established the Community Safety Innovation Fund which reinvests the proceeds of crime seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau, in local projects to build stronger, safer communities.
22 community projects across the country are set to benefit from grants ranging from €5,000 to €150,000, which will support the delivery of innovative projects to improve community safety in their local areas.
The Community Safety Innovation Fund was established in April 2021 and €2 million was allocated to it under Budget 2022 – and this will increase to €3 million next year under Budget 2023.
Minister McEntee stated: “This fund reflects the successes of An Garda Síochána and the Criminal Assets Bureau in identifying and seizing the ill-gotten gains of criminals. Equally, people across Ireland are working tirelessly in their communities to prevent crime from taking hold and make their local areas safer.
Working together, we will build stronger, safer communities. By putting this money back into the community, we can show that there is a direct link between the activities of law enforcement and improving community safety.
Based on the high quality of proposals received, I believe the successful projects have the potential to have a real impact on their respective communities.
I also want to encourage those who applied this year but did not receive funding to apply next year – we are increasing the size of the fund by 50 per cent under Budget 2023. My Department will provide guidance on how to achieve a successful application”.
The funding call for the Community Safety Innovation Fund invited applications from community safety initiatives as well as groups co-funded with local authorities, NGOs and community organisations working on issues relevant to community safety and youth justice.
The fund opened for applications in April 2022 and a total of 124 were received by the deadline of 8 June.
Minister McEntee added: “Community Safety is about people being safe and, just as importantly, feeling safe within their communities. It’s vital that we empower our communities to proactively address concerns and build stronger and safer communities.
One of the objectives of this fund was to encourage the development of innovative ways to improve community safety from those people who best understand local community safety needs. Each project has detailed how best the community wants to prevent crime and their proposals reflect community priorities and local safety issues“.
Minister McEntee will today visit the Dublin North Inner City Local Community Safety Partnership based in Dublin’s North Inner-City and the Meath Travellers Workshop, two organisations that will receive funding for projects to improve community safety under the initiative.
The Dublin Local Community Safety Partnership have received funding for a Community Safety Warden Scheme, which will help people safely enjoy the recreational space in Wolfe Tone Park and its environs through the employment of local community safety wardens.
The Meath Travellers Workshop engages with young members of the Travelling community who may be vulnerable to falling into crime across Meath.
The development of the Community Safety Innovation Fund was a key commitment under Justice Plan 2022, as part of the broader objective to drive community participation in a new approach to make communities safer, and work across government and with State agencies to support this goal.
A Tipperary man, named as Mr John Carey, aged 54 years, and with an address at Rathanny, Golf-links Road, Tipperary Town, Co Tipperary, has been remanded in custody, following his appearence in court yesterday afternoon.
Mr Carey, who appeared before Judge Ms Paula Murphy at Dublin District Court yesterday afternoon, stands accused of unlawful possession of cocaine, with an estimated value of €1.26m, same intended for sale or supply at New Customs House, Promenade Road, Dublin Port on Monday, October 10th, last.
The arrest followed ongoing investigations, involving a joint intelligence-led operation, conducted by the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau and personnel from the Revenue Customs Service.
The search of a vehicle resulted in the discovery of 18kgs of cocaine, same detected by the use of Customs Service sniffer dog “James”.
Initially a woman aged 43 years was also arrested with both accused of drug trafficking offences, however we understand that the woman has since been released without charge.
Mr Carey made no reply when charged and defence solicitor Ms Claire Finnegan confirmed that there was no application for bail at this time.
Judge Murphy remanded Mr Carey in custody to appear via video link at Cloverhill District Court on Tuesday, October 18th.
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