Law « Thurles Information

53 New Gardaí attested At Passing-Out Parade in Templemore, Today

53 Gardaí attested today at in-person ceremony, bringing to approximately 370 the number of newly attested members this year.
25% of new recruits are women while 15% were born outside of Ireland.

Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee TD, today, July 8th, 2022, attended the passing-out ceremony at Templemore, to welcome and congratulate 53 newly-attested Garda members.

The new Garda members will now be assigned to Garda Divisions throughout the country.

Speaking at the attestation ceremony today, Minister McEntee stated: “It is a pleasure to see such a strong, diverse and vibrant group of new Gardaí passing out today. I would like to congratulate the newest members who join the almost 300 Gardaí who have already attested this year.

An Garda Síochána is a cornerstone of our democracy. Day in day out, we trust its members to maintain the security of the State, to protect our people, and to ensure that we can go about our daily lives in a peaceful country.

In doing their work, Gardaí have the full support of the Government. The budget provided by this Government to the Garda Commissioner continues to increase to unprecedented levels, with an allocation of over €2 billion for 2022, which is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff.

In addition, my Department is working on legislative developments to assist and support An Garda Síochána as they look to the next 100 years of policing in Ireland”.

Of the 53 new Garda members attesting today, 13 are women, while 8 were born outside the State, from England to Poland, Iraq, Mauritius, amongst others.

Minister McEntee added: “It is particularly heartening to share this day with the new recruits in the centenary year of An Garda Síochána.

I am pleased to see that the significant efforts of Commissioner Drew Harris and the wider Garda organisation to encourage diversity amongst its members are paying off. It is vital that everyone in our society sees members of their own communities serving in An Garda Síochána.

The diverse interest in recent recruitment campaigns shows that a career in An Garda Síochána is one that appeals to many – I hope for you all here today that it will be a career that is exciting, challenging and fulfilling.
You will help and protect people in their most vulnerable hours and at their most difficult times. As a country we owe you a debt of gratitude for the deep commitment to public service you have made in joining An Garda Síochána.

Go n-éirí an t-ádh libh le bhur ngairmeacha amach anseo – go raibh míle maith agaibh as an gcinneadh seo a dhéanamh, chun oibre le pobail chun iad a chosaint agus chun freastal orthu”.
[Translation Irish to English – Good luck with your future careers – thank you so much for making this decision, to work with communities to protect and serve them.]

€150 Fine For Using Disabled Parking Bay In Thurles.

Yesterday, Tipperary Roads Policing (Póiliniu Bóithre) unit observed a vehicle, incorrectly parked; while patrolling in the Liberty Square area of Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

**Picture courtesy Tipperary Roads Policing *(Póiliniu Bóithre)*.**

A motor vehicle was found to be parked in a disabled parking bay, situated east of the town.

Same vehicle was found to not display the necessary “Disabled Permit” badge. The driver, when questioned, did not to hold a permit and had used the disabled car parking space, before entering a local shop in the town.

As part of “Operation Enable” Garda enforcement; a fine of €150 was issued to the driver.

Garda are asking the public to please respect the current existing law in relation to parking in disabled parking bays, wherever same are found to be in situ.

Launch of Forensic Science Ireland’s Annual Report 2021

Almost 24,000 cases processed by FSI in 2021.
Assisted in the identification of 13 unidentified human remains.
Worked with An Garda Síochána on 15 serious crime reviews, dating as far back as 1985.

The Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee TD, welcomes the launch of the 2021 Annual Report of Forensic Science Ireland (FSI).

A key feature of the 2021 Annual Report is the substantial increase in the demand for the services of FSI over the past 3 years. FSI has grown its services over the same period, with an increase in DNA & Biological Analysis services provided (increased by 54%), growth in the number of drugs reports issued (increased by 35%) and the integration of Fingerprint and Documents & Handwriting investigations into FSI.

Minister McEntee stated: “FSI’s forensic science services provides invaluable support to An Garda Síochána in the investigation of crime. Their work is often instrumental in assessing and confirming evidence to ensure that those who are guilty of crimes are brought to justice.
I would like to thank Director General Chris Enright and the team of Forensic Science Ireland for their tremendous work throughout a challenging 2021. FSI again remained open through all stages of the COVID restrictions, processing almost 24,000 cases – an increase of 85% compared to 2018″.

FSI’s support for European cooperation in criminal investigations and border control have also grown over the course of the 2021. FSI is now exchanging DNA data with 11 countries under the Prüm Decision, after connecting with Germany, France and Malta in 2021.

The Minister added: “The progress in construction of FSI’s purpose built forensic facility at the Backweston Science Campus is very encouraging. The building is planned for completion in the coming months and will create avenues to grow and expand forensic services for the State. I very much look forward to the opening of the new facility”.

The FSI Annual Report 2021 can be accessed HERE.

Government approve proposal to expand Garda Liaison Officer Network.

Minister McEntee welcomes Government approval of proposal to expand Garda Liaison Officer Network.

Minister for Justice Mrs Helen McEntee TD has received Government approval for the expansion of the Garda Liaison Officer Network.
Following a request from Garda Commissioner Mr Drew Harris to the Minister, this expansion will involve:

Creation of two new posts for Garda Liaison Officers, one in Abu Dhabi, with responsibility for the Middle East region, and the second in Bangkok, with responsibility for the South-East Asia/Australasia region.
Assignment of an assistant liaison officer to Washington who will support the operation of the current Garda Liaison Officer (GLO) post in the North American Region.
Temporary assignment of two Garda members to assist the French National Police and Gendarmerie during July and August 2022.

Minister McEntee said, “We have seen the importance of international law enforcement coalitions in recent months as, through collaboration and cooperation with their partners, An Garda Síochána have enjoyed success in pursuing Irish criminals abroad, such as the Kinahan Organised Crime Group.
Some criminals may think that they can evade justice by leaving Ireland but these law enforcement coalitions demonstrate that they cannot.
And given the increasingly transnational nature of organised crime and terrorism, the Garda Liaison Officer Network plays an important role in realising An Garda Síochána’s commitment to tackle these twin issues.
They engage with local and regional law enforcement agencies regarding the activities and movement of Irish nationals or people linked to Ireland who An Garda Síochána, and potentially their colleague police services, have an interest in.
The new GLOs will be crucial in assisting An Garda Síochána in pursuing criminals who spread misery here in Ireland, as well as abroad”.

GLO positions are currently situated in Madrid, Paris, London, The Hague, Washington DC and Bogota.

Garda members at the rank of Sergeant, Inspector and Superintendent have been assigned to these positions, which are based in the Irish embassies as part of the Irish diplomatic mission in those countries.

Minister McEntee continued, “This is the second expansion of the Network in the past two years following the creation of the Washington and Bogota posts in 2020. These expansions follow a review of the Network which recommended the creation of five new regional GLO posts.
These new positions will be important for enhancing the security of the state and strengthening An Garda Síochána’s relationships with police services overseas.
The deployment of Garda Liaison Officers to date has proven to be an effective and practical form of interagency cooperation between police services and has supported the exchange of information and the coordination of operations across borders.
This expansion will see the Network break new ground by expanding into the Middle-East and South-East Asia/Australasia while also supplementing the existing operations in North America and Europe”.

Motorists Daily Receiving Fines On M7 Motorway In Tipperary.

On average some 47 motorists, each day, are receiving speeding fines on the M7 motorway, in an area where new average speed safety cameras have been recently installed.

Figures provided by An Garda Síochána indicate that a daily average of 47 motorists have been caught driving at average speeds in excess of 120km/h over the distance between Junction 26 [Nenagh West, North Co. Tipperary] and Junction 27 [Birdhill, North Co. Tipperary].

These figures indicate that regrettably the speed by motorists has increased significantly on this 15km-stretch of the M7 motorway, since the safety cameras were first introduced in late April of this year.

It should be noted that, motorists found driving at speeds in excess of 120km/h, between Junction 26 and Junction 27 on the M7 in Co. Tipperary are liable, as at the moment, for a fine of €80, combined with three penalty points on their licence.

The Road Safety Authority has confirmed it has decided to now fast-track a review of penalties for serious road traffic offences, in response to the major increase in road fatalities so far in the current year.
To date, sadly a total of 83 people have lost their lives on roads, here in the Republic of Ireland; an increase of 30 persons over the corresponding period of last year.

This review of penalties, by the Road Safety Authority, which will include the offences of speeding, mobile phone use, drink and drug driving and the non-wearing of seat belts, was initially due to be completed by the end of 2024, however the review is now being re-prioritised, to possibly be completed within the current year, together with new media public awareness publicity campaign.