Thurles Information

Gardaí from Templemore and Thurles, investigating the robbery at Meagher’s News Agency & Grocery; on Sunday, January 10th last, latter premises situated on Lower Main Street, Borrisoleigh, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, have, yesterday, arrested two men aged in their 20’s.

Readers will remember that at approximately 5:00pm, two men, one of them carrying what is understood to be a knife, had entered the said premises in Borrisoleigh village, where they had threatened a staff member demanding they hand over cash from the cash register.

The two men then exited the shop with a substancial sum of money, before driving away in a car that was parked a short distance away.

Both young men were detained at Templemore and Nenagh Garda Stations under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

One of the men has since been charged with the offence and was due to appear before Nenagh District Court this morning, January 15th at 10:30am.

The other man has since been released, while a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, (DPP).

Last February 2020, additional manpower was added to the District Drug Unit in Clonmel. The unit now consists of one Sergeant and four Gardaí.

As a result of this increase in staffing, detections of those involved in the sale and supply of drugs are up 70%, whilst incidents of simple possession are up 74%.

Suspected drugs such as cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, MDMA, alprazolam, cannabis and diazepam, with an estimated street value of €256,000, were seized along with over €20,000 in cash.

Speaking at Clonmel Garda Station, Superintendent William Leahy stated:

“We have an extremely committed group of Gardaí attached to our drugs unit here in Clonmel. With the support of our uniform Gardaí, they have a proactive approach to targeting street level drug dealing. For 2021, we will continue to disrupt and dismantle drug dealing networks and organized crime groups that effect our town so negatively”.

“Drug use is a problem that we, An Garda Siochana, can’t solve alone. It is a societal issue and requires a societal response.
People who think it is ok to use drugs on a recreational basis, and think its harmless, are only fooling themselves. Not only are they damaging their health, they are also funding organised crime. Drugs have an impact on so many lives and remains a contributing factor in public order, assaults and collisions on our roads.
If you see or hear of any drug activity, please pick up the phone and call the Gardaí.”

Gardaí investigating potential money laundering offences here in the Tipperary Garda Division since early December this year, have yesterday seized over €90,000 in cash and arrested one man, latter understood to be aged in his early 40’s.

Following on from intelligence received by Gardaí, a search operation was conducted at 11 addresses across Co. Tipperary yesterday. These searches included identified residential and business premises, from which the following items were seized during the course of the Garda probe: –

• Over €90,000 in cash.
• Two Rolex watches.
• High value designer goods.
• Extensive financial documentation.

The male arrested was detained for questioning at Tipperary Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

We understand the arrested male has since been released without charge, while a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, (DPP).

Further investigations are continuing.