Crime « Thurles Information

Decision To Follow EU Directive On Domestic Violence Welcomed.

Minister McEntee welcomes decision to opt into proposed EU Directive combating violence against women and domestic violence.

The Irish Minister for Justice Mrs Helen McEntee TD, yesterday, welcomed approval from the Oireachtas for Ireland to opt in to the first piece of EU legislation specifically addressing violence against women and domestic violence.

The European Commission has identified gaps in protection and support measures across the European Union, and with this proposal is seeking to align EU law with established international standards, most notably the Istanbul Convention.

The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention after the city in which it opened for signature 10 years ago, on May 11th 2011, is the most far-reaching international legal instrument to set out binding obligations to prevent and combat violence against women.

Under Protocol 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the Government requires the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas to opt in to the EU directive.

Minister McEntee said,
“We are looking forward to engaging with our EU partners to shape a progressive and effective approach to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence for the Union.
I will shortly publish our new national strategy to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and it is clear that DSGBV is an issue we need to tackle on all fronts – both domestically and at an EU level.
While this EU directive is a detailed and comprehensive measure, a lot of what is being proposed is not new for Ireland. But we can always strive to go further and encourage our EU partners to do likewise.
I believe that along with the publication of the new national Strategy, which is comprehensive and forward-thinking, Ireland can and will drive real progress in combatting these horrific crimes”.

This EU Commission proposal aims to ensure effective prevention of such violence, protection from violence, access to justice, victim support, and strengthened coordination across the Union.

It also aims to ensure that sexual harassment and cyber violence are addressed effectively.

While Ireland’s response can be said to be more developed that some other member states, it is felt that these type of crimes are unlikely to significantly decrease across the European Union without additional EU action and commitment to combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

Central Statistics Office – 2019 Prison Re-Offending Stats Welcomed.

Minister for Justice Mrs Helen McEntee, TD, has welcomed the latest figures released from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on Prison re-offending in 2019.

Drop in re-offending rates within 1 year of release from prison from 48% in 2018 to 45% in 2019
3 year reoffending rate remains static
Prisoners serving short custodial sentences (3-6 months) most likely to reoffend within a year
Younger adults released from custodial sentences continue to have a much stronger tendency to re-offen Females remain more likely to re-offend than males within three years.

Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee, TD has welcomed the latest publication today by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) of a statistical release on Prison Re-Offending Statistics from 2019. The release provides information on the level of recorded re-offending by individuals released from custodial or Fine Sentence sanctions within the Irish Prison Service.

The report provides information on prisoner re-offending estimates which are calculated using data provided by the Irish Prisons Service and An Garda Síochána’s PULSE reporting system.

In addition to updates of three-year and one-year re-offending rates and tables on individuals released from custody 2011-2016, this new publication also presents statistics displaying the geographical breakdown of prison re-offending in Ireland.

The report indicates that individuals released in 2019 from custodial sentences lasting between three and six months (58%) had the highest likelihood of re-offending within a year.

Speaking about the results of the report, Minister McEntee said

“I welcome the fact that the prison reoffending rates appear to have fallen from 48% in 2018 to 45% in 2019.

What is concerning is that the rate of those reoffending within a year of release remain highest for those sentenced to between 3 and 6 months imprisonment. Officials in my Department are currently finalising a review of policy options for prison and penal reform”.

The CSO publication indicates that men made up the majority of prison releases in 2016 at 92%. The statistics show that women were more likely to re-offend with 70% of women reoffending within 3 years of release compared to 62% of men.

Referring to this particular statistic, Minister McEntee indicated that
“We know that most women who offend pose a low risk to society but present with a high level of need.

The joint IPS/Probation Service Strategy “An Effective Response to Women Who Offend” provided the starting point for focused interventions for female offenders.

The new penal policy review recognises the particular needs of women who offend and will look at how best to address them”.

The report from the CSO outlines that those released from custodial sentences in 2019 that related to Burglary or Public Order offences are most likely to re-offend within a year of release. The Department of Justice is working with An Garda Síochána to tackle this specific issue.

Operation Thor, introduced in 2015 by the Gardaí to deter criminal activity related to burglary, has proved highly successful in tackling property related crime since its inception in November 2015.

In 2015, there were in excess of 18,800 residential burglaries reported. By contrast, to the end of 2021 there were just over 6,000 residential burglaries reported, a reduction of over 66% or approximately 13,000 less residential burglaries.

Draft Bill Published To Protect National Security & Tackle Serious Crime.

New mechanisms to retain data to protect national security and tackle serious crime under draft Bill published by Minister McEntee.

Mechanism for general retention of data for purposes of national security
Preservation and Access to specified data for both security and law enforcement
Minister McEntee clear that Gardaí must not have their hands tied behind their backs

The Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee TD, has today published the General Scheme for the Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022.

The General Scheme provides that general and indiscriminate retention of communications traffic and location data can only be permitted on national security grounds, where approved by a designated judge.

In addition, the General Scheme provides for a system of preservation and production orders to facilitate preservation of and access to specified communications data held by service providers for both national security and for the investigation of serious crime, where permitted by an authorising judge.

A preservation order will act as a “quick freeze” requiring service providers to retain any specified data they hold at a particular point in time for a period.

A production order will allow access to specified data held by a service provider for commercial or other reasons, where such access is necessary for national security or law enforcement purposes. The effect of a production order will be that a service provider must immediately take steps to produce and hand over to the relevant state agency the data described in the order made by an authorised judge.

Both traffic and location data retained for national security purposes and subscriber data, retained for national security or law enforcement purposes, will be retained for 12 months.

The General Scheme is consistent with European Court of Justice rulings in this area.

The Minister stated: “As I stated last month when I received Cabinet permission to draft this legislation, it is vital that we do not have a situation where An Garda Síochána have their hands tied behind their backs and Gardaí must be fully equipped with strong laws and modern technology.

There should always be safeguards and protections when it comes to accessing data, but we must not allow the balance to shift too far away from keeping people safe and fighting crime and the Government is taking urgent action to ensure that the appropriate legislation is in place.

It is my intention, with the assistance of the Attorney General and his officials, to return to Government next week seeking approval to publish the Bill. This urgency is unavoidable given the need for legal certainty for communications service providers and state agencies on what obligations apply to the retention of communications data, which is vital for law enforcement and national security.

In addition to this urgent Bill, I intend to bring forward a more comprehensive proposal later in the year to address wider reforms and a more consolidated legal framework in this area”.

Alleged €2m Fraud At Richard Quirke’s Dublin Casino & Arcade.

An alleged €2m fraud has been uncovered at the company that wields control of the arcade and casino business, known as Dr Quirkey’s Good Time Emporium on Dublin’s O’Connell Street.

This disclosure is contained in new consolidated accounts for Dublin Pool and Juke Box Ltd, which reveals the alleged misappropriation of funds totalled €1.009m in 2018 and €1.017m in 2019.

The business is owned by “slot-machine tycoon”, 75-year-old, Mr Richard Quirke, father in law of Rosanna Davison, latter an Irish actress, singer, writer, model and beauty queen, who was crowned Miss World back in 2003.

Our readers will remember that Mr Quirke had, back in 2009, been associated with a €460 million plan, which was promoted by Tipperary Independent TD, Mr Michael Lowry.
The plan back then was to build a massive entertainment facility which was to include a five-star 500-bedroom hotel; casino; full-size replica of the White House; an underground entertainment centre seating 15,000 people; 18-hole golf course; driving range; retail outlets; timber chapel, heliport; 6,000 car spaces; new racecourse for horses and a new greyhound track on a 325 hectare (800-acre) site, close to the village of Two-Mile-Borris, Thurles, Co Tipperary.

In December 2009, An Taisce, objecting to the plan through their heritage officer Mr Ian Lumley, suggesting that this plan was based on a “Failed International Development Model”.
Eventually, the planning body gave the casino the go-ahead in June 2011, refusing permission for the 15,000-seater “underground” music venue. However, same ran into trouble again, almost immediately, following the government announcing plans to overhaul Ireland’s gambling laws, thus blocking large, resort-style casinos.

The original planning application for this development, expired in 2018, but the developer applied for (and was granted) an extension in February 2018 (due to expire in March 2023).

To date, Mr Quirke is understood to have built up a sizeable fortune from his Dublin based casino business, with most of the company’s wealth concentrated in property.

Drug & Cash Seizure In Clonmel Tipperary Following Arrest.

A male in his 20’s was arrested and taken to Clonmel Garda Station following a Drug Seizure in the Cashel Road area of Clonmel on Tuesday last.

Members of the Clonmel District Drugs Unit, assisted by other local units, carried out a search of a residential address on foot of a search warrant.

Cocaine valued at approximately €6,700 was seized, together with a quantity of cash.

The search was conducted as part of Operation Tara, the goal of which is to protect communities from the scourge of illegal drugs in line with An Garda Siochana’s mission of Keeping People Safe.

This news comes following reports from the Health Research Board that treatment for cocaine use, among young people here in Ireland, has increased by 171% between the years 2011 and 2019.