Crime « Thurles Information

Thurles Resident Charged With 2017 Murder In Skibbereen, Co Cork

A 42-year-old Thurles man has appeared at Bandon District Court, charged in connection with the murder of an English national, at his home in west Cork, some four and a half years ago.

Mr Jonathan Ustic, a 51-year-old from Cornwall, was located dead having sustained serious injuries, following an assault at his rented terraced house on High Street in Skibbereen, Co Cork, on September 24th, 2017 last. The father of one, Mr Ustic, had moved to Ireland back in 2005 and had previously lived in Drimoleague and Bantry, Co Cork and in Co Tipperary, having moved from the UK.

Andrew Nash, of Parnell Street in Thurles, Co Tipperary was brought before a special sitting of Bandon District Court today, where he was formally charged with the murder of Mr Ustic.

Detective Sergeant Kevin Long gave evidence of arrest charge and caution of Mr Nash. Gardaí are understood to have arrested Mr Nash this morning at 8:05am in Parnell Street, Thurles, before he was removed to Bandon Garda station for questioning.

Detective Sergeant Long informed the court that he charged Mr Nash with one count of the murder of Mr Ustic at 11:32am today adding that Mr Nash had made no reply when the charge was put to him under caution.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed that the accused be sent for trial by indictment at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin.

No application was made for bail at the hearing, however the Defence barrister Mr Peter O’Flynn, for Mr Nash said his client was reserving the right to apply for bail in the High Court.

Mr Justice Roberts assigned free legal aid in the case before remanding Mr Nash in custody to appear before Bandon District Court on Thursday April 7th next.

Father of one Mr Ustic had moved to Ireland in 2005 and had previously lived in Drimoleague and Bantry, Co Cork and in Co Tipperary following his relocation from the UK.

Drugs Flushed Down Toilet Retrieved By Gardaí.

A female, holding a Thurles address, who obstructed Gardaí while attempting to flush illegal drugs down a toilet, during a planned search of a property in Portarlington, has been fined at Portlaoise District Court.

Rachel McCarthy, aged 30, with an address at No.15 Cabra Court, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, had pleaded guilty to the offence.

Prosecuting Garda confirmed that the offence happened on January 21st last year, when the accused flushed a number of small bags containing cannabis and cocaine, latter intended for her own use and for sale or supply, down a toilet on the property being searched.
Gardaí had entered the address in Portarlington, bearing a search warrant and later had managed to retrieve the flushed items.

The accused, latter a mother of two children, through her legal aid, informed the court that she had panicked, but had fully admitted her action; fully co-operating with Gardaí when being interviewed.

Granting Gardaí a destruction order for the drugs in question, Justice Mr John King convicted the accused of the offence and fined her €400.

Increased Funding For Organisations Supporting Victims Of Crime.

€4.6 million in funding across more than 60 organisations providing supports and services across the country.
Funding will provide support, information and advice on the rights of victims, as well as counselling services, court accompaniment and other accompaniment.
Training and awareness raising of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence also funded.

The Minister for Justice Mrs Helen McEntee TD has announced funding totalling €4.6m for more than 60 organisations to support victims of crime.
The €4.6m is an increase of over 20% on the previous total fund of €3.8m which was made available in 2021.

It also builds on separate, additional funding announced last November under the ‘Supporting a Victim’s Journey’ plan for areas of the country or categories of victims not currently fully covered by support services for victims.

The allocations cover:
National and larger organisations such as Barnardos, Women’s Aid and the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre.

A range of local organisations working with victims across the country, such as Women’s Aid in Dundalk, Wexford Rape Crisis and Letterkenny Women’s Centre, General victims support organisations such as the Crime Victims Helpline, Specialist organisations including the Irish Tourist Assistance Service and Dignity 4 Patients.

Minister McEntee TD, said:
“So many organisations across the country are doing outstanding work for victims. I am pleased to announce this funding to increase their ability to provide supports and services as victims engage with the criminal justice system.
I am working to build a victim centred criminal justice system where victims know they will be treated with respect and dignity when they come forward to report what happened to them.
A fear of the system, or how someone in it might treat you, should never stop a victim seeking justice.
I believe that many of the reforms I am introducing, such as preliminary trial hearings and training for frontline staff in the legal system, will help victims.
But increased funding for organisations that offer services such as court accompaniment and helplines for victims, as announced today, is also vital.”

In particular, €250,000 has been allocated to a number of organisations including Doras and Men’s Development Network for training and awareness raising of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.

Late last year, the Department of Justice invited applications for funding from registered charities, voluntary community groups, and other organisations which provide services – or plan to provide services – supporting victims in the criminal justice system.

Applicants included organisations that provide support, information and advice on the rights of victims, as well as counselling services, court accompaniment and other accompaniment.

Budget 2022 includes €4.9m allocated to the Department of Justice specifically for Victims of Crime, and other projects will be funded later in the year.

Minister McEntee added,
“This week, we also held our inaugural Victims’ Forum, which will provide further opportunities to engage closely with frontline organisations who support victims.
I have established the Forum to facilitate information exchange and examine avenues of improvement in relation to victims’ rights, and I think it will be another important element in improving the system.”

Tipperary Garda Searches Identify Animal Cruelty, Stolen Property & Cocaine.

Today, March 16th, 2022, Gardaí in the Clonmel District assisted by the Regional Dog Unit, carried out a total of 10 searches in Clonmel and surrounding areas.

Various items which Gardaí suspect as having been stolen, such as lawnmowers, bicycles, chainsaws and power tools, were seized along with fuel syphoning equipment.

A search in the Old Bridge area of Clonmel resulted in the seizure of suspected cocaine, with an estimated street value of €7,000 (pending analysis).
A man aged in his 20’s was arrested and is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Clonmel Garda Station.

During a search in the Powerstown area of Clonmel, a caged wild rabbit was located which had been badly injured by hunting dogs.
The wild animal was removed from the scene and brought to a local Veterinary clinic, where sadly it had to be put down, such was its condition.
Further investigations are ongoing in relation to this latter incident.

New Members Of An Garda Síochána Congratulated At Templemore Training College, Co. Tipperary.

70 Gardaí attested at Templemore today
Newest members join the force 100 years after the first ever Gardaí.
Minister encourages people interested in joining An Garda Síochána to apply before upcoming deadline.

The Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee TD, has welcomed the attestation of 70 members of An Garda Síochána at the Garda Training College, Templemore, Co. Tipperary, today.

The Minister said: “I wish to congratulate our newest members of An Garda Síochána. It is always a proud day when recruits join the ranks of An Garda Síochána, but this is a special year. We are 100 years on from the establishment of our police service when the very first members of An Garda Síochána, led by the first Garda Commissioner, Michael Staines, passed out at a ceremony in Dublin’s RDS on 21 February 1922.
The men and women whose attestations have taken place today carry on the fine work of those very first recruits, in protecting communities and citizens all over the country.”

Today’s attestations bring the total number of members of Garda rank to 11,773. A further 158 trainees are currently in training.

There is currently a recruitment competition underway for applications to join An Garda Síochána. Budget 2022 has provided for the recruitment of up to 800 Gardaí and 400 Garda staff this year and many of those recruited will be drawn from this competition.

The Minister added:
“There has never been a better time to join the Gardaí as we work towards a policing service for the future that is valued for the essential public service it provides. Both the Government and the Garda Commissioner are committed to increasing diversity within An Garda Síochána and ensuring that all communities can see themselves reflected in our police service.
The deadline for the recruitment campaign is next Wednesday, March 16th. I urge anyone interested, particularly members of new Irish communities, women and people from minority groups to consider a career in An Garda Síochána.”

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