Farming - Thurles Information

Former Bóthar CEO Accused Of Misappropriating Charity Funds.

The Third World development organisation and charity Bóthar, of whom the late great Mr Thomas Joseph (T.J.) Maher, Castlemoyle, Boherlahan, Cashel, Co Tipperary was a founder member, has claimed before the High Court that its former CEO Mr David Moloney has misappropriated hundreds of thousands of euro, donated to the organisation, for his own and his associate’s personal use.

**Mr David Moloney, former CEO Bóthar**.

On Thursday last Bóthar, whose activities include aiding poor farmers in developing nations through donations of livestock, succeeded in secured a temporary High Court injunction, thus freezing the assets of Mr David Moloney, latter who in February last resigned his post as the charities CEO.

In the High Court Ms Justice Nuala Bulter ordered that Mr Moloney must not reduce his assets below a value of €465,000.

It should be noted that Mr David Moloney who has worked with Bóthar since 1995 and was CEO of the organisation for eight years, and who currently resides at Newport, West Co. Tipperary; strongly denies any allegations of wrongdoing.

However, Bóthar claim that an ongoing investigation into his conduct has revealed that he is guilty of a shocking breach of trust and an appalling dereliction of his duty; not just to Bóthar as an organisation but also to the beneficiaries of the charity.

Mr Frank Beatty SC, appearing with Mr Frank Crean Bl, acting on behalf of Bóthar, stated in court that Bóthar investigations show that at the very least, some €465,000 of monies donated to the charity had been misappropriated by Mr Maloney.

Counsel further stated that arising out of current investigation it is alleged that between 2013 and 2019, the accused Mr Moloney withdrew €192,000 of money, donated to Bóthar, claiming it was paid to a Mission run by the Congregation of Mary Immaculate Sisters in Tanzania, East Africa.

Bóthar claim to have consulted with the administrator in charge at the African mission, who informed them that the religious order was never in receipt of any money from Mr Moloney or indeed the charity Bóthar, itself.

Counsel for Bóthar further stated that Mr Moloney arranged that Bóthar make three payments, totalling €127,000, to a company called Agricultural Innovation Consultants Limited, for services it provided in relation to purported projects in Rwanda. These payments appear to not be recorded in the accounts of A.I.C. Ltd, which was incorporated in 2018, and has since been dissolved. Bóthar now believe the projects in Rwanda were falsified, and it does not know what became of the funding.

Ms Justice Nuala Bulter granted Bóthar the temporary freezing order on an ex-parte basis, where only one side was represented in court. She also gave Bóthar permission to seek orders requiring the defendant in this case to provide a list of the full value or interest he holds in any assets.

The judge also gave Bóthar permission to seek an order requiring Mr Moloney to provide details of all funds donated to the charity, that it is now alleged he used for his own benefit or the benefit of other parties.

Following the decision by Bóthar to commence High Court proceedings, the charity has decided to cease all of its fundraising activities with immediate effect.

Animal Carcasses Found Dumped Near Thurles In Co. Tipperary.

Gardaí in Co. Tipperary are currently investigating the dumping of 15 calf carcasses, which have been found located on isolated bogland, partially covered by surface bog water.

Four of the calves are understood to have been discovered close to a popular walking trail, near Derryville, close to the village of Glengoole, Thurles; on property owned by Bord Na Móna.

Farmers are required, by law, to pay a maximum fee of between €30 and €100, depending on the age of any dead animal requiring removal by recognised knackery operators, under the Department of Agriculture’s Fallen Animal Scheme.

We understand the removal of the carcasses is being organised by Tipperary County Council, under the guidance of the Department of Agriculture and local investigating Gardaí.

Thurles – Looking Back.

**Cathedral Street, Thurles**, *(formerly East Main Street, Thurles)*, at the junction of (left – right) **Mitchel Street** *(formerly Quarry Street)*; **St. Mary’s Avenue** *(formerly Church Lane)*; **and Kickham Street** *(formerly Pike Street or “The Pike”)*.

Picture left above shows farmers lining up to sell their wool to purchasers Ryan’s (Brewery Stores) on east Main Street Thurles.
Picture right above shows East Main Street, today (December 30th 2020) renamed Cathedral Street, Thurles.

Sheep numbers grew significantly here in Ireland from some 2 million in 1848, towards the end of the Great Famine period; to 3.6m at the end of 2014. Land normally ploughed decreased almost by half within the same period, up until 1916, while land in pasture increased to double for grazing animals.

In hilly, mountainous areas, the selected breeds were prominently Blackface Mountain ewes and Cheviots, well able to survive on various and difficult terrains.

However, farmers, occupying the rich farmlands of Tipperary (Golden Vale), kept sheep for two main products, meat (mutton) and wool, thus reducing their dependence on the potato crop as their staple diet, towards the end of the 1800’s. Both mutton, wool and live sheep, in large numbers, were successfully exported to Britain.

Photograph on the left above was probably taken in the early years of 1900. The bright sunshine to the rear suggests the exposure was made mid-morning, towards the end of June when all sheep shearing was concluded. I base this observance on the fact that from June 1st in Tipperary, sheep were in the past, generally seen as ready to shear, with summer temperatures increasing.

Ireland’s Water Quality Needs To Be Better Protected

**River Suir at Barry’s Bridge, Thurles, Co. Tipperary**. *Photo: G. Willoughby*

Just over half of Irish surface waters are in a satisfactory condition.
Nutrient concentrations in waters are too high and the trends are going in the wrong direction.
Nitrate concentrations are now increasing in nearly half of our river and groundwater sites.
Phosphate levels are increasing in a quarter of river sites.
Concentrations of nitrate are highest in the south and south east of the country where the main source is agriculture.
Delivering on the key objectives of Ireland’s River Basin Management Plan and targeted action at local water catchment level is key to improving water quality.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published the Water Quality Indicators Report 2019 which provides an assessment on Ireland’s surface water and groundwater quality.

The main threat to water quality is the presence of too much nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen, which come primarily from agriculture and waste water. Over one third of rivers, and a quarter of lakes are failing to meet their environmental quality standards for nutrients. Over one fifth of our groundwater, estuarine and coastal water bodies have high nitrogen concentrations.

Just over half of rivers and lakes are in high or good biological quality. The rivers surveyed in 2019 have shown more improvements than declines overall, which is welcome, however further action is needed to return waters to a satisfactory condition.

Commenting on the assessment, EPA Director Dr Micheál Lehane said:

“Clean, healthy water is essential for our economy, our aquatic wildlife and for our health and well-being. However, this assessment shows that our water environment remains under considerable pressure from human activities. Of most concern is the continued upward trend of nitrate concentrations. The problem is particularly evident in the south and southeast of the country where the main source is agriculture.
We need urgent and effective action to ensure that the decline in water quality is halted and to restore those water bodies that have declined in quality.”

Ms Mary Gurrie (Programme Manager), continued:

“Elevated nutrient concentrations are contributing to pollution in our freshwaters and estuaries and causing difficulties with drinking water standards in some areas. Urgent action is now needed to reduce nutrient inputs from agriculture. Measures need to be targeted at the critical source areas where nitrogen and phosphate problems occur. There is a lot of good work happening at a local level to improve water quality and this needs to be scaled up to deliver the improvements needed.

The River Basin Management Plan, the new Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan and the full implementation of the EU Farm to Fork Strategy offer significant opportunities to achieve improvements in water quality, while delivering multiple benefits for the environment including for climate, air quality and biodiversity.”

The report is available on the EPA website HERE, and the accompanying data used in the water quality assessments are available HERE.

An infographic is also available.

FSAI Recall Processed Chicken & Salmon

As a precaution and further to Food Safety Authority Ireland (Food Alert 2020.55), Dunnes Stores and Lidl have yesterday recalled its Cooked Chicken Pieces and Cooked Chicken Tikka Pieces; due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

The Batch Code: P3629 and P4629; with a ‘Use by date’ of Oct. 2nd 2020, will see the removal of the implicated batches by all retailers and a ‘point-of-sale recall notices’ erected in all stores where the affected batches were being offered for sale.

Today the Food Safety Authority Ireland (Food Alert 2020.61) has also recalled a batch (Batch Code: 208; use-by date: 31.09.2020) of Coastguard Seafoods Smoked Salmon also due to the detection of Listeria monocytogenes.

Symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications.

Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly.

The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is on average 3 weeks but can range between 3 and 70 days.

In all cases consumers are strongly advised not to eat the implicated batches.