Education « Thurles Information

Garda Warns Of Rising Child Grooming Risks On Online Gaming Platforms.

A senior officer with the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau has warned that children are being groomed and exploited on online gaming platforms, at what he described as an “alarming scale.”

Detective Superintendent Michael Mullen told RTÉ’s Prime Time that Gardaí are now regularly encountering cases of grooming, sexual exploitation and abuse linked to platforms such as Roblox, which is particularly popular among younger children. He said he was “very concerned” about the level of exploitation occurring “on a daily basis.”

**Sexual Exploitation and Abuse linked to Childrens Roblox platform**, **says Senior Detective**.

Roblox, which has over 150 million daily users, allows children as young as five years old to set up accounts without age verification or mandatory parental approval. During a Prime Time investigation, test accounts accessed games containing simulated sexual behaviour, dating role-play, racial slurs and suicide references; all prohibited under Roblox’s rules. Gambling-style features and users soliciting the platform’s virtual currency were also identified.

Det Supt Mullen cited cases where Irish children were coerced into buying items for other users and, in some instances, pressured to self-harm. In one case, a nine-year-old seeking virtual currency was targeted by adults demanding explicit acts in return.

Roblox is facing mounting international scrutiny, including legal actions in several US states alleging failures to protect minors. Former Garda and ex-Interpol specialist Mr Mick Moran, now CEO of Hotline.ie, said similar risks exist in Ireland. “Absolutely, children here are being groomed,” he said.

Experts highlighted the ease with which adults and children can interact on the same servers, with Prime Time observing attempts by older users to move minors onto private messaging apps. Researchers, testing Roblox, also reported widespread sexualised behaviour and abusive language.

Roblox says child safety is a “top priority” and that it removed content highlighted by the programme. It will introduce age verification for chat functions in Ireland early next year, though specialists warn that determined predators can still bypass such measures.

Gardaí and online safety advocates emphasised the vital role of parents. They advised parents to set up accounts alongside their children, know the games being played, use parental controls, and reinforce rules around avoiding private chats with strangers.

A Must Watch For Parents.
NOTE: Prime Time’s full investigation airs on this evening, November 27th at 9:35pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.

Coroner Issues Urgent Alert Over Rising Threat of Nitazene Opioids.

Dangerous ‘nitazene’ opioids are on the rise in Ireland and researchers are worried. Be aware!

An Ireland coroner has issued a grave warning regarding the escalating dangers posed by nitazenes, latter a ‘new to the market’ and a highly potent group of synthetic opioids, now increasingly linked to sudden deaths across the region.

The alert follows the inquest into the death of 33-year-old Portadown man, Mr Jay Woolsey, who died in August 2024. During the hearing, the coroner stressed that nitazenes are far stronger than previously understood, in some cases hundreds or even thousands of times more potent than morphine. Since late 2023, these substances have been entering the drug market in Ireland and at speed.

Authorities warn that the potency of nitazenes varies significantly, with some similar in strength to heroin while others far exceed the power of fentanyl. This inconsistency creates a dangerously high risk of accidental overdose. Compounding the threat, nitazenes have been identified in drugs typically seen as non-opioid substances, including MDMA, ketamine and benzodiazepines, thus placing unsuspecting users at severe risk.
Note: Fentanyl test strips do not detect nitazenes.

The physical effects mirror those of other opioids and can include:

Euphoria or a dreamlike state.
Unresponsiveness or loss of consciousness.
Itchiness.
Severe nausea or vomiting.
Slow or difficult breathing.
Blue lips or fingertips.
Cold, clammy skin‘
Pinpoint pupils.

To date, ten additional nitazene-related deaths have been recorded across the North of Ireland, many involving polydrug use. The coroner noted that families are often unaware that loved ones are sourcing dangerous substances online or via the dark web.

Public Health Agencies and police have reiterated serious concerns about nitazenes being mixed with heroin and other drugs, often without users’ knowledge, sharply increasing the potential for fatal overdose.

Public health agencies and support services are now being urged to take immediate action, including:

Strengthening early-warning systems and enhancing monitoring of emerging synthetic opioids, ensuring rapid information-sharing across health, Gardaí, justice and community sectors.
Improving multi-agency cooperation to enable fast, coordinated responses to overdose spikes and new drug threats.
Expanding rapid-access treatment options and ensuring families affected by overdose receive timely, appropriate support.
Issuing clear and consistent public alerts when nitazenes are detected and promoting practical harm-reduction guidance for drug users and their families.
Making nitazene test strips available through harm-reduction and outreach services to help identify contamination and prevent further deaths.

Authorities are urging communities to remain vigilant and to seek immediate medical help if signs of opioid overdose are present.

So What Is Actually Contained In That Cold Meat Sandwich?

Yuka App: A Growing Tool for Health-Conscious Consumers, As We Previously Discussed in Earlier Exchanges.

The increasingly popular Yuka mobile application, which we have examined in previous discussions, continues to make significant inroads with consumers seeking clearer, more transparent information about the food and cosmetic products they purchase.

How to download the Yuka Application unto all phones.

To download the Yuka App, simply visit the iTunes App Store or Google Play Store and search for Yuka, [ https://yuka.io/en/ ]. From now on do take a little time with your shopping and use your Smartphone to scan barcodes on packaging and instantly learn if any intended item should be purchased.

Developed in France and now widely used across Europe, Yuka allows shoppers to scan product barcodes and instantly receive an overall health rating, presented through an easy-to-understand colour system. Each item is scored from 0 to 100, with green indicating positive nutritional or ingredient quality, orange signalling a mediocre rating, and red warning of poor or concerning elements.

For food products, Yuka’s analysis is based on three weighted pillars: nutritional quality (60%), the presence and safety of additives (30%), and organic certification (10%). Cosmetic products, meanwhile, are assessed ingredient-by-ingredient, with the app highlighting potential allergens, endocrine disruptors, and other risk factors.

One feature that has contributed to Yuka’s growing influence is its independence. The developers do not accept funding from brands or industry groups, allowing the app to position itself as an unbiased guide for consumers. When a scanned product receives a low score, Yuka provides suggestions for healthier or safer alternatives, giving shoppers practical options rather than simply pointing out shortcomings.

The app has also gained attention for its broader impact. Retailers and manufacturers in several markets have adjusted product formulations in response to shifting consumer behaviour driven by Yuka’s ratings. With millions of items now included in its database, coverage continues to expand.

Yuka’s user base has grown steadily, driven by its simplicity, transparency, and educational value. Its premium version offers additional features including offline scanning, ingredient search tools, and customised dietary filters.

As we noted in previous conversations, Yuka represents a modern shift in how the public engages with everyday products, part consumer guide, part public health tool, and increasingly a catalyst for industry change.


Product.	Yuka App. Description.	Quality.	Rated.	Retailer.
Chicken Breast, Green Farm.	No Hazardous Additives & low impact Salt.	Excellent	90/100.	Dunnes Stores.
Slow Cooked Irish Angus Beef.	No Hazardous substances & low impact Salt.	Excellent	84/100.	Dunnes Stores.
Divilly Brothers Traditional Ham.	Contains 1 Limited Risk additive. A bit too much sodium.	Good.	63/100.	Dunnes Stores.
Peppered Irish Beef.	Contains 1 Limited Risk additive. A bit too much sodium.	Good.	63/100.	Dunnes Stores.
Roast Turkey Slices.	No additives, Low Salt, Low sugar, Low Saturated Fats.	Excellent.	84/100.	Dunnes Stores.
Roast Irish Beef.	Contains 1 Limited Risk additive. A bit too much sodium.	Good.	63/100.	Dunnes Stores.
Pork.Onion And Tomato Roll.	Contains 13 risky additives & too much Sodium.	Bad.	9/100.	Aldi.
Brannans Chicken Breast pieces Roasted.	Contains 2 risky additives.	Poor.	49/100.	Aldi.
Brannans Roasted Turkey Shaving.	Contains 3 risky additives.	Poor.	49/100.	Aldi.
Brannans Deli Style Crumbed Irish Ham.	Contains 3 risky additives & too much Sodium.	Poor.	39/100.	Aldi.
Brannans Aldi Turkey slices.	Contains 2 risky additives.	Poor.	49/100.	Aldi.
Hand Crumbed Irish Ham Slices.	Contains 5 risky additives.	Poor.	45/100.	Aldi.
Irish Oven Baked Ham Shavings.	Contains 2 risky additives & too much Sodium.	Poor.	42/100.	Aldi.
Tripple Oak Smoked Ham.	Contains 2 risky additives Contains 2 risky additives & too much Sodium.	Bad.	8/100.	Lidl.
Irish Ham.	Contains 5 risky additives & no salt.	Poor.	49/100.	Lidl.
Angus Topside Beef.	A bit too much Sodium.	Good.	72/100	Lidl.
American Style Honey Roast Sliced Ham.	Contains 2 risky additives, too much Sodium.	Poor.	36/100.	Lidl.
Irish Carved Peppered Turkey Breast.	Contains 2 risky additives.	Poor.	49/100.	Lidl.
Traditional Irish Ham.	Contains 4 risky additives, too much Sodium.	Poor.	36/100.	Lidl.
Glensallagh Irish Roast Beef.	Contains 4 risky additives too much Sodium.	Poor.	39/100.	Lidl.
Lidl Chicken Breast Slices with Herbs.	Contains 2 risky additives too much Sodium.	Poor.	39/100.	Lidl.
Irish Carved Ham.	Contains 2 risky additives, too much Sodium.	Poor.	42/100.	Lidl.
Glensallagh Crumbed Irish Ham.	Contains 3 risky additives, too much Sodium.	Poor.	49/100.	Lidl.
Glensallagh 8 Wafer Thin Cooked Turkey Slices.	Contains 3 risky additives, too much Sodium.	Poor.	49/100.	Lidl.
Simply Cooked Ham Slices.	Contains 4 risky additives, too much Sodium.	Poor.	39/100.	Lidl.
Lidl Irish Ham.	Contains 5 high-risk additives & no Salt.	Poor.	49/100.	Lidl.
Brannans Crumbed Irish Ham Slices.	Contains 4 risky additives & no salt.	Poor.	39/100.	Lidl.

Why These Above Tabled Additives Are Labelled As Risky.

Producers continue to use certain additives, particularly nitrites and nitrates, in processed meat products, because they play a critical role in food safety, preservation and consumer colour appeal. These substances inhibit the growth of dangerous bacteria such as (1) Clostridium botulinum, (2) extend shelf life, and (3) help maintain the pink colour and cured flavour that shoppers expect. While widely used across the industry for both practical and economic reasons, these additives can form potentially harmful compounds when consumed in excess, leading to ongoing public-health concerns and calls for safer alternatives.

Although effective, nitrites can form nitrosamines when exposed to high heat or certain chemical conditions. Nitrosamines are considered potentially carcinogenic, particularly linked to colorectal cancer risk when consumed frequently. This is why public health bodies recommend limiting the intake of processed meats.

Remember, Yuka’s information and recommendations should not replace a healthy balanced diet. Always consult a GP for advice on the best diet for you, as an individual.

Irish Government Announce Approval To Progress Operation Encompass.

Operation Encompass is an early intervention strategy which aims to provide immediate support for children impacted by domestic violence.
It involves An Garda Síochána notifying the school where the child attends that there was a domestic violence incident in the home, so that a teacher can provide care and support.
Measures on information sharing included in the General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences, Domestic Violence and International Instruments) Bill 2025.

Government announce approval for the drafting of legislation which will allow for information sharing between An Garda Síochána and schools in order to strengthen protection for children impacted by violence in the home.

The General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences, Domestic Violence and International Instruments) Bill 2025 includes measures to allow Gardai to inform a designated person in a school that a domestic violence incident has occurred in a pupil’s home, similar to the Operation Encompass early intervention strategy already in place in Northern Ireland.

It has been established to ensure a child’s school will be informed at the appropriate time that a domestic violence incident has occurred in the home of the child. The school is made aware so that the child can receive additional support in their care and learning following the incident.

Teachers are not expected to take any action, other than being sensitive to the fact that the child may have witnessed a distressing incident of domestic abuse. The discreet support will be based on the needs and wishes of the child. An Garda Síochána will only be allowed to share with the school that a domestic violence incident occurred in the household. No other details will be provided.

Under Zero Tolerance, the Third National Strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, there is an action to scope and develop an operational framework to introduce a scheme along the lines of Operation Encompass in the Irish system in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders.

Government officials are working closely with their counterparts in Northern Ireland to draw on experiences and learnings to inform the operationalist of Operation Encompass here.

Ongoing scoping work around implementation of the scheme will include a cross-border learning event to draw on insights and experiences from the implementation of Operation Encompass in Northern Ireland, which commenced via a pilot programme in September 2021, informing a broader roll out to covering all schools in the North. Key stakeholders from both sides of the border will be invited to attend and engage in this event.

Join Us For Book Launch In Cashel Library Tomorrow.

Ms Maura Barrett, (Cashel Library) Reports:

When betrayal shattered her life, author Marcella thought she might never recover.
A mother of four, broken and raw, she found herself on the edge of despair, until she chose to begin again.
“The Year I Changed My Life“, is part memoir, part guide: a year-long journey through heartbreak, healing, and the radical act of coming home to yourself.

Join us for a fun and interactive workshop launch – with Refreshments served.

This is just one of the many free events at Cashel Library each year.
Do Remember booking is essential to Tel: 062-63825.

Visitors attending this event can locate the Cashel Library building; situated on Friar Street, Lady’s Well, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, HERE. (Eircode E25 K798).