Law « Thurles Information

Gardaí Seize €55,000 Worth Of Suspected Cocaine & Cannabis In Co. Tipperary.

Gardaí seize €55,000 worth of suspected cocaine and cannabis in Cahir, Co. Tipperary raid, yesterday.

**Suspected Cocaine & Cannabis Seized in Cahir, Co. Tipperary Garda Raid, Yesterday**.

Gardaí, armed with a search warrent, carried out a search of a house in Cahir, Co. Tipperary, yesterday November 26th, resulting in the seizure of an estimated €55,000 of suspected cocaine and cannabis.

Officers also recovered more than €4,000 in cash and a substantial quantity of drug-dealing paraphernalia.

The operation involved the Tipperary South Divisional Drugs Unit, the Divisional Crime Task Force, the Garda Dog Unit and the Tipperary Central Community Policing Unit.

No arrests have as yet been reported at this time.

A file will now be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Coroner Issues Urgent Alert Over Rising Threat of Nitazene Opioids.

Dangerous ‘nitazene’ opioids are on the rise in Ireland and researchers are worried. Be aware!

An Ireland coroner has issued a grave warning regarding the escalating dangers posed by nitazenes, latter a ‘new to the market’ and a highly potent group of synthetic opioids, now increasingly linked to sudden deaths across the region.

The alert follows the inquest into the death of 33-year-old Portadown man, Mr Jay Woolsey, who died in August 2024. During the hearing, the coroner stressed that nitazenes are far stronger than previously understood, in some cases hundreds or even thousands of times more potent than morphine. Since late 2023, these substances have been entering the drug market in Ireland and at speed.

Authorities warn that the potency of nitazenes varies significantly, with some similar in strength to heroin while others far exceed the power of fentanyl. This inconsistency creates a dangerously high risk of accidental overdose. Compounding the threat, nitazenes have been identified in drugs typically seen as non-opioid substances, including MDMA, ketamine and benzodiazepines, thus placing unsuspecting users at severe risk.
Note: Fentanyl test strips do not detect nitazenes.

The physical effects mirror those of other opioids and can include:

Euphoria or a dreamlike state.
Unresponsiveness or loss of consciousness.
Itchiness.
Severe nausea or vomiting.
Slow or difficult breathing.
Blue lips or fingertips.
Cold, clammy skin‘
Pinpoint pupils.

To date, ten additional nitazene-related deaths have been recorded across the North of Ireland, many involving polydrug use. The coroner noted that families are often unaware that loved ones are sourcing dangerous substances online or via the dark web.

Public Health Agencies and police have reiterated serious concerns about nitazenes being mixed with heroin and other drugs, often without users’ knowledge, sharply increasing the potential for fatal overdose.

Public health agencies and support services are now being urged to take immediate action, including:

Strengthening early-warning systems and enhancing monitoring of emerging synthetic opioids, ensuring rapid information-sharing across health, Gardaí, justice and community sectors.
Improving multi-agency cooperation to enable fast, coordinated responses to overdose spikes and new drug threats.
Expanding rapid-access treatment options and ensuring families affected by overdose receive timely, appropriate support.
Issuing clear and consistent public alerts when nitazenes are detected and promoting practical harm-reduction guidance for drug users and their families.
Making nitazene test strips available through harm-reduction and outreach services to help identify contamination and prevent further deaths.

Authorities are urging communities to remain vigilant and to seek immediate medical help if signs of opioid overdose are present.

Former Tipperary Soldier Denies Murder Of Retired Army Captain.

A 67-year-old former Defence Forces member has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his long-time friend and retired army Captain, Mr Patrick O’Mahony, who was found shot dead at his home in Castlemaine, Co. Kerry, in February of 2024.

Mr Thomas Carroll, of Brookway, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, entered the plea at the Central Criminal Court in Limerick, where a jury of nine men and three women has been sworn in.

Opening the prosecution case, Mr Dean Kelly SC said Mr O’Mahony, aged 84, was a respected firearms dealer and former FCA and Defence Forces member, who retired as a Captain with an exemplary record. He had been widowed three months before his death.

The court heard that Mr Carroll, also a retired soldier with an excellent service record, travelled from Co. Tipperary to visit Mr O’Mahony for the weekend. The two men socialised together on the Friday and Saturday.

Mr Kelly said Mr Carroll contacted Mr O’Mahony’s son early on the Sunday morning claiming his father had suffered a fall. However, a post mortem later confirmed Mr O’Mahony died from a single close-range gunshot wound, thus prompting a murder investigation.

The prosecution alleges that events between the two friends “took a foul turn” and that Mr Carroll pointed a handgun at Mr O’Mahony with intent to kill or cause serious harm. It is further alleged that Mr Carroll’s account of a fall was “self-serving”.

The trial is ongoing.

Gardaí Arrest Three People Following Possible Murder Of Former Tipperary Resident.

Gardaí have arrested three individuals as part of their ongoing investigation into the possible murder of Mr William Delaney, who has been missing for almost seven years.

Two women, aged in their 30s and 50s, and a man in his 30s, were detained earlier today. They are currently being held at garda stations in the Midlands and Southwest regions under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

Mr Delaney, originally from Co. Tipperary, had been living in Portlaoise with his family at the time of his disappearance. On the morning of January 30th 2019, the 56-year-old left Portlaoise General Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment, before collecting his welfare payment at Portlaoise Post Office.

He was last seen at approximately 3:00pm that same day in Monasterevin, Co. Kildare, after calling to the home of a relative on the old Cork–Dublin Road, directly opposite the Hazel Hotel. The relative was not at home, but Mr Delaney was observed outside the property. He was reported missing by his family on March 6th 2019.

In June 2019, gardaí received credible information suggesting that Mr Delaney had been murdered and that his remains had been buried at a location in Co. Laois. A large-scale search operation was subsequently carried out in the vicinity of the Rock of Dunamase; however, no remains were located.

Gardaí continue to appeal to anyone with information relating to the disappearance or murder of William Delaney to come forward.

All information will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Man Aged In His 70s Dies Following House Fire In Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.

Gardaí in Clonmel, South Co. Tipperary are investigating a fatal house fire that sadly claimed the life of a man aged in his 70s on Sunday evening last.

Emergency services were alerted at approximately 6:00pm, after neighbours in the Carrigeen housing estate reported seeing what they believed to be a fire at a residential property.
Fire units from Cahir and Clonmel attended the scene and brought the blaze quickly under control after around two hours.

During the course of the operation, the body of an older man was discovered inside the house. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. No other injuries have been reported.

The man’s body has been removed to University Hospital Waterford, where a post-mortem examination will be carried out.

The scene has been preserved to allow for a full forensic and technical examination, and gardaí have commenced an investigation into the cause of the fire.

Clonmel Gardaí are appealing to anyone with information to contact them on TEL: 052-6177640.