Law « Thurles Information

Cannabis Seized In Moyglass, Fethard Area Of Tipperary

On Saturday evening last, November 28th, 2020, at 7.30pm, members of the Clonmel District Drugs Unit, assisted by the Community Policing Unit, carried out a search at an address close to the village of Moyglass, Fethard, Co Tipperary.

During the course of this search, suspected cannabis packed in individual deals and valued at €1,300 was located and seized, together with digital weighing scales and packaging materials.

A man in his 20’s was arrested at the scene and detained at Clonmel Garda Station.

We understand the arrested male has since been released, pending the submission of a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions, (DPP).

Another Drug Stash Located In Tipperary Field

Tipperary Gardaí, as part of their war on the sale and supply of illegal drugs, have seized drugs to the estimate value of €5,000, from a field in Clonmel, South Co. Tipperary.

**Picture courtesy An Garda Síochána, Tipperary.**

As part of an ongoing operation specifically targeting the sale and supply of amphetamine and other drugs in Tipperary; Gardaí from the Clonmel District Drugs Unit, assisted by uniformed Gardaí from Clonmel Garda Station, carried out a search on a house in the Old Bridge area of Clonmel, close to Raheen Road, at around 1:00pm today.

As part of their exploration, Gardaí searched an adjacent field to this property and discovered cocaine to the value of €4,250, cannabis herb to the value of €500, together with alprazolam valued at €150.

The latter drug Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. It belongs to a class of medications called benzodiazepines which act on the brain and nerves (central nervous system) to produce a calming effect.

To date no arrests have been made, however Gardai are following a definite line of enquiry.

Conference on Environmental Law Enforcement – Emerging Challenges 2020

The Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Laura Burke; and the Chief Justice, the Hon Mr Justice Frank Clarke, will provide the opening addresses at this year’s virtual conference on Environmental Law Enforcement: Emerging Challenges 2020 which will take place on Wednesday on November 11th 2020, with the event timed for 9.00am until 1.15pm.

Note: Advance registration for this event is essential.
To view the full conference programme, please use the link shown HERE.
To register for this event, please use the link shown HERE.

The conference, which is co-hosted by the EPA and the Irish Centre for European Law (ICEL), will explore some of the challenges and potential opportunities that are emerging through experience with environmental enforcement; recent developments in the case law; as well as new policy initiatives.

Commenting on the conference, Ms Laura Burke (EPA Director General), stated: “This conference is an important opportunity for practicing legal professionals, leading academics and researchers, policy makers, concerned stakeholders as well as professional regulators to come together to explore emerging challenges in Ireland with regard to enforcement of environmental law. It also has an important role in supporting the development of competency and capacity in environmental law and its enforcement.”

The conference will explore experience, challenges and recent case law in relation to the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive; the Environmental Liability Directive and the Habitats Directive; as well as the implications of the recent judgment of the Supreme Court in ‘Climate Case Ireland’ for climate and wider environmental protection.

There will also be contributions providing different perspectives and experience in the context of establishing a specialist court for planning and the environment.

Dr Áine Ryall, (ICEL and Centre for Law and the Environment UCC) stated: “The conference is very timely. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to establish a Planning and Environmental Law Court managed by specialist judges. There is also a commitment to reform the judicial review process. These proposals raise important issues concerning the right of access to justice and merit close attention. Furthermore, the pandemic has created challenges for the exercise of rights guaranteed under the Aarhus Convention, in particular the right to participate in environmental decision-making.
The conference provides a forum for informed debate. It will explore how to use the law to protect the environment and improve environmental quality.”

Gardaí Anxious To Return Safely 3 Dogs To Owners.

Gardaí have detained, what they believe are stolen dogs (All Terriers) in South Co. Tipperary.

The Gardaí are now presently trying to trace the real owners of 3 dogs, after Detectives from Carrick-On-Suir seized the animals yesterday morning, Saturday November 7th, 2020.

**Pictures courtesy of An Garda Síochána, Tipperary**.

At around 8.30am, Gardaí saw three men placing the 3 dogs into the boot of a car, before driving off at speed. The car was later stopped in the Ballyclerahan area of Clonmel before being searched.

Gardaí were not fully satisfied that the men were the true owners of the dogs, as the men could not provide any documentation proving their right to possession.

The animals seized were then taken to the vet, but all three, when scanned, were discovered to have no identifying microchips.

Gardaí are now appealing for the assistance of the public in locating the possible owners of these three animals; same identified as two Patterdale Terriers and a Wire Haired Terrier.

Owners are asked to contact Clonmel Garda Station on Tel: 052-6177640.

Eight Munster Garda Officers Suspended From Duty

Eight Gardaí, based in the Munster region, have been suspended from duty by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Same suspension is part of an ongoing investigation into possible alleged corruption.

The eight officers were initially suspended yesterday on suspicion of failing to prosecute road traffic offences, and their suspensions account for the largest number of Gardaí ever stood down from the Irish police force in any one day. In total, their suspension brings to 11 the number of Irish police officers currently on suspension as part of this particular investigation.

The Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, which is a national unit, examining alleged Garda corruption, have identified a large number of fixed charge penalty notices, which they now suspect was not being prosecuted through the court system.

We understand that Gardaí; having been informally interviewed by investigators, have claimed that they were directed by other officers to abandon certain of their intended prosecutions.

We understand that Gardaí can no longer cancel fixed charge penalty notices due to the system having been centralised, with authority to strike out notices now strictly limited.

An Garda Síochána first suspected, in early 2019, that information had been disclosed about a Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) investigation into the activities of a particular criminal gang in the Munster area.

The gang was suspected of being involved, amongst other crimes, of drug trafficking and was specifically targeted by the Criminal Assets Bureau.

To this end, CAB carried out eight searches in the south of Ireland on March 15th of 2019, seizing 115 cars and thousands in both euro and sterling which they believed were the proceeds of crime.

At that time, CAB suspected that information, from its then ongoing investigation, had been leaked to certain members of the gang. Following this, three members of the Garda force, including an inspector, a superintendent and a detective, were subsequently arrested and questioned in March 2019.

All three officers continue to remain suspended, together with the eight Gardaí, suspended just yesterday.

We further understand that a number of Garda Stations have also been searched as part of this investigation.