Law - Thurles Information

Man (50s) Arrested In Dublin Over Tipperary Armed Robberies.

A man, understood to be aged in his 50s, appeared before Cashel District Court at 4.15pm this afternoon; same charged regarding a series of armed robberies targeting bookmakers, here in Co. Tipperary.

As part of ongoing investigations into these armed robberies, the accused was arrested by detectives from the Clonmel District Crime Unit, following an operation conducted in west Co. Dublin, on Wednesday, October 18th last.

The arrest related to four incidents which took place in September and October, 2023. The ongoing investigations related to robberies at premises in Fethard on September 28th last, Killenaule on October 12th last, Carrick-on-Suir on October 15th last, and an earlier attempted robbery in Clonmel, on October 7th.

Following the arrest of the accused, he was taken to a Garda Station in Co. Tipperary and detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007.

Public Consultation Launched on Reform of Coroner Service.

The Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee T.D. has today (20th October 20th 2023) launched a wide-ranging consultation to inform the development of proposals for comprehensive reform of the Coroner Service in Ireland.

The consultation is an opportunity for members of the public and stakeholder groups to express their views, observations and proposals on how the Coroner Service might be enhanced into the future.

While the Coroners Act of 1962 has undergone a number of amendments, the structure of the Coroner Service remains largely as it was originally established by that Act. The Government wants to ensure that the Coroner Service is positioned to provide a comprehensive service into the future. Issues such as driving innovative change and enhancing customer service have been identified as areas in need of examination.

This consultation marks a significant step forward in that process – the aim of which is to ensure that the many positive elements of the Service are maintained, while introducing improvements and enhancements where they might be required.

Responses to the consultation process will be captured through two separate questionnaires, which aim to capture the views and opinions of both individuals, latter who have engaged with the Coroner Service and those of stakeholder groups, who support the service. All interested parties are encouraged to take part in this process over the coming months, where views will be a key part of the review and reform process.

The public consultation will be open until January 19th, 2024 and following its conclusion, it is intended that proposals on a renewed Coroner system, including a proposed plan as to how this will be achieved, will be brought to Government.

Further information on the public consultation, along with the two associated questionnaires, can be accessed HERE.

Probation Service Annual Report 2022 Published.

The Probation Service is a non-statutory executive agency of the Department of Justice and plays an essential role within the criminal justice system to reduce reoffending and to increase public safety.
The Service is responsible for the management and delivery of robust community sanctions, working with offenders to change their behaviour and make good on the harm caused.

The Probation Service Annual Report published details the substantial work undertaken by the Probation Service over the period 2022, during which the Probation Service worked with 16,347 people within the community, 2,880 people in custody and completed more than 11,800 assessment reports.

During 2022 the Probation Service made progress on its strategic commitments across many aspects of the organisation. Some key highlights include:

The advancement of its new Irish Probation Framework (IPF) a bespoke model of probation practice that is evidence informed, underpinned by research and aims to deliver the best possible outcomes for clients, stakeholders and the wider community;
Its commitment to the implementation of the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (2022 – 2026) via the development of a 1–1 rehabilitation programme for men convicted of intimate partner violence;
The implementation of a new senior management structure aimed at building capacity in areas such as social inclusion, data analytics and community sanctions & service; and
The provision of €17.532 million of funding, via the Department of Justice, to community based organisations across the country to develop and deliver services in communities – which undertake the work of the Probation Service in changing offending behaviour.

In August 2022, the Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee, published the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024. The Review seeks to find the balance between ensuring that people who commit serious crimes receive a punishment and a period of incarceration proportionate to that crime, while at the same time acknowledging that sometimes community-based sanctions are more appropriate in diverting offenders away from future criminal activity and that they have a role to play in addressing criminality, reducing reoffending and providing protection to the public, while holding the individual accountable.

In response to this in December 2022, the Probation Service published a detailed Evidence Review of Community Service which makes a series of important recommendations aimed at maximising the potential of community Service within the Irish criminal justice system. This directly responds to objectives set out on the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform.

The Probation Service Annual Report 2022 is available on the Gov.ie website HERE.

EU Anti-Trafficking Day Being Marked.

Training launched to help security workers identify child victims of trafficking.
New Action Plan to combat human trafficking to be published within weeks.

EU Anti-Trafficking Day is being marked by emphasising the importance of raising awareness of the crime, and confirming that a new action plan to combat human trafficking will be published within weeks.

**With over 7150 human trafficking victims registered in 2021, the number continues to rise in Europe.**

EU Anti-Trafficking Day is marked each year on October 18th and among the events in Ireland today is the launch of a training module around child trafficking awareness, same aimed at relevant sectors within the security industry, and developed by the Private Security Authority (PSA) and the training provider, MECPATHS.

Separately, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is launching research, funded by the Department of Justice, on human trafficking on the island of Ireland, with a focus on the border with Northern Ireland.

Minister for Justice Mrs Helen McEntee has stated, “Human trafficking is an exploitative and particularly heinous crime that preys on some of the most vulnerable, and is committed with no regard for life, dignity or for the most basic of human rights.
It has no place in a modern and civilised society. Victims can be found anywhere, often hidden in plain sight and we need wider society to recognise the signs and to contact An Garda Síochána if they have concerns.
We are determined to combat this insidious crime and to support those who are victims of it.“

Minister McEntee will shortly publish the third Action Plan to combat human trafficking, with the key goals of this plan focused on creating a more victim-centred approach to identifying and supporting victims; raising awareness; and providing training for those who need it.

Introducing the revised National Referral Mechanism (NRM) will be a key action. The National Referral Mechanism is the framework through which the State identifies and supports victims of human trafficking.

An Garda Síochána is currently solely responsible for identifying victims. The reality is that some victims of trafficking, because of interactions they may have had with law enforcement officials in other jurisdictions, have a perception that police cannot be trusted. The new approach acknowledges other State bodies and NGOs have a role in identifying victims of human trafficking and referring them to the NRM. Legislation to introduce the new NRM is currently before the Dáil.

The development of training, through NGOs, targeting front line staff in industries such as hospitality, airline, shipping and security, latter who may come into contact with trafficked persons is also key to the new plan.

Today sees the launch of the PSA online training module around Child Trafficking awareness. The training will become mandatory for all new applicants for a PSA licence in the Door Supervisor and Security Guarding sectors.

Further information can be found on the Department of Justice’s dedicated anti trafficking website HERE.

Limerick Female Prison Officially Opens Today.

The Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee TD, will today officially open the state-of-the-art Limerick Female Prison, marking a significant development in Ireland’s justice system.

The Limerick Female Prison has accommodation for a minimum of 50 female prisoners. It will increase capacity across the prison estate, as well as providing an environment that promotes rehabilitation, helps reduce reoffending and helps to build stronger, safer communities.

Designed with a focus on rehabilitation, the Limerick Female Prison aims to offer a range of educational, vocational, and therapeutic programs to equip inmates with the necessary tools for a law-abiding life after their release.

These initiatives include educational courses, vocational training, mental health support, addiction counselling, and access to healthcare services.

The accommodation comprises of a mixture bedroom units, some apartment style units and a mother and baby unit, all with individual en-suites.

Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD said; “The opening of Limerick Female Prison marks an important step forward in increasing capacity across the prison estate and helping us build stronger, safer communities.
These additional spaces are necessary to ensure that we have the sufficient space and facilities to support those committed to serve a custodial sentence in an environment that is safe and has the space and capacity to focus on rehabilitation.
They also reflect our commitment to rehabilitating prisoners, reduce re-offending and put them on a path to leading law abiding lives.
This modern facility reflects our determination to provide an environment that enables prisoners to address the underlying causes of their offending behaviours and helps them reintegrate successfully into society”.

In addition the opening of Limerick Female Prison today, over 200 spaces were provided across the prison estate in the last year, with an additional 96 spaces provided with the reopening of the Training Unit in Mountjoy, an additional 90 cell spaces with the opening of new male accommodation in Limerick.

Minister McEntee also intends to prioritise 4 additional short-term capital projects at Castlerea, Cloverhill, the Midlands and Mountjoy that could provide accommodation for a minimum of 620 additional people over the next 5 years.

The Minister is engaging with the Minister for Public Expenditure with a view to progressing an agreed schedule of capital builds.
Budget 2024 provided an increase of €27 million in the Irish Prisons Service budget, including an extra €12.6m in pay to fund public sector pay increases and additional staff to cope with increasing prisoner numbers and services to prisoners.
The new staff provided for in this increased allocation will include extra staff to assist with a Rapid Prison Building Unit to drive the Government’s intention to provide of over 620 new prisoner spaces over the next 5 years.

In addition, the Department of Justice and the IPS continue to work together to identify short, medium and longer term proposals to help manage capacity.

Director General of the Irish Prison Service, Ms Caron McCaffrey said, “I am delighted to announce the official opening of the new Limerick Female Prison. I want to take this opportunity to commend all the staff who worked on this development but also ongoing the modernisation of the Irish Prison Service estate. I feel a huge sense of pride and this new prison will equip women who come into custody with the necessary tools to lead law-abiding lives after their release”.

The opening of Limerick Female Prison signifies Ireland’s dedication to transforming its prison system into one that prioritises rehabilitation, reducing the likelihood of reoffending and contributing positively to communities. The facility aligns with international best practices.
It is also essential that the prison estate is modern and fit for purpose and has the capacity to accommodate those committed to prison by the courts both now and into the future. The new Limerick Female Prison builds on the works that have been completed across the prison estate over the last number of years.