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 Gardaí in North Tipperary and Offaly have warned parents to be extremly vigilant, following the attempted abduction last night of a 13-year-old girl, near the town of Ferbane, Birr, Co.Offaly.
Superintendents in both counties are said to be extremely concerned about this particular incident and are using this opportunity to create greater public awareness of such dangers, considering the fact that all children are currently enjoying school holidays and are possibly therefore subject to greater unsupervised public freedom than is usual.
Parents in the area are warned that they should be aware of their children’s whereabouts at all times, and children should communicate to their parents, if they decide to change already conveyed planned destinations.
The 13 year old teenage girl is understood to have been cycling to the home of a friend, close to Moyclare in Ferbane, at approximately 8.30pm last night when a white van, described as similar to a van used by An Post, pulled up alongside her. The driver, understood to be a male, then attempted to pull her into the vehicle. Following a struggle, the girl escaped, sustaining some minor injuries, before running to a neighbouring house to raise the alarm.
The man being sought by Gardaí is described as being middle aged, low in stature, with dark hair and wearing glasses.
Gardaí are actively appealing for witnesses or any other information the public may have on the movements of the driver and the white van involved in this assault. Anyone operating security CC TV anywhere in this area are asked to check their system, with a view to identifying the movement of white coloured vans.
Gardaí also confirm that they are following a number of lines of inquiry at this time.
 Nenagh Courthouse There has been angry vocal reaction to the decision by the Irish Courts Service to close both local Courthouses in the Tipperary towns of Roscrea and Borrisokane.
Under these new proposals, from next January, both town’s local court sittings would be transferred to the upgraded accommodation presently provided by Nenagh courthouse, which just 32km from Roscrea and 16km from Borrisokane.
Presently there are no consultation rooms or cells in Roscrea or Borrisokane, with security, facilities for legal practitioners, defendants, witnesses, victims of crime and the public, at well below modern requirement standards.
The Courts Service, in a statement, also explain that at present private business is being conducted on corridors and security remains an serious issue. The proximity of Borrisokane and Roscrea to Nenagh, together with the low frequency of court sittings, and therefore small annual case loads, in both towns, make it logical to transfer court business to the larger town.
Roscrea’s legal community are set to meet to discuss the issue this week, however, in our current financial climate there is little prospect of being able to improve facilities in Roscrea or Borrisokane, bringing them up to the standard which users are now entitled to expect.
While most local anger is being expressed by Solicitors and the business community in these areas, many residents feel that both communities would now be better served seeking more profitable alternative uses for these structures, which have changed little since first constructed back to the 1800’s.
The body of a 53-year-old man has been recovered from a house fire in Co Tipperary early this morning. Two women, also occupants of the house, escaped from the blaze.
An alarm was raised shortly before 2.00 this morning, when flames were spotted emanating from a private residence at Grange Road in Ballina. Fire fighters and Gardai were quickly on the scene and the remains of a male resident was later recovered and removed to the mortuary at Limerick Regional Hospital.
The Office of the State Pathologist has been notified, and a post mortem is expected to take place later today.
Gardai believe the male victim was overcome by smoke and got trapped inside the burning dwelling. Gardai in Killaloe are investigating all circumstances surrounding the fatal fire and the scene is currently preserved until a technical examination is fully complete.
 Noel Coonan with Alan Shatter Minister Alan Shatter has assured Deputy Noel Coonan that Templemore Garda College will remain open.
The Minister for Justice Alan Shatter addressed Templemore Town Council last Thursday where he passionately assured all present that: “There was never ever any doubt of any description that Templemore Garda College would close. It represents a crucial part of the architecture of our Garda force and is here to stay.”
Minister Shatter also moved to reassure all present that he “hopes to resume recruiting within 18 months.” These words of fortitude and reassurance were given following a passing out ceremony in the Garda College.
Minister Shatter continued: “The financial envelope handed down from the last Government has put huge constraints on our economic activities but we have to abide by it. There is no means of raising additional moneys; arrangements have been entered into with the IMF/EU bailout. We will know a lot more next March about where we stand financially and it will be clearer then when recruiting can recommence.”
Deputy Coonan welcomed the Justice Ministers’ comments and thanked him for agreeing to address the council. The local Fine Gael TD also outlined that it was the last Government who undertook to reduce Garda numbers to 13,500 by the end of this year, and to 13,000 by the end of 2014 but the Garda College remains one of the leading police academies worldwide.
The Minister also said that if a greater number of the Garda force retire than anticipated in the coming year then that may bring forward recruitment. “Recruits will be brought back in as soon as the force meets limits outlined by the IMF. I’m very conscious of the importance of the Garda College to this area and it’s crucial it stays vibrant. I have a great affection for the college and we are constantly looking at initiatives that can benefit from skills and facilities within the college. For example, the college could be utilised to provide police training for other countries or used by groups such as those participating in the London Olympics. These discussions are at a very early stage but these initiatives would bring revenue and tourism to Templemore. The backlog of in-service training will now commence and I want to compliment the management of the college who have put these in place. We have more gardai now that we had at the height of the troubles in Northern Ireland and we still have a strong and superbly trained force.” said Minister Shatter.
In conclusion, Deputy Coonan asked the Minister if extra patrol cars could be allocated to Templemore Garda Station as they currently have one small car to cover a huge area. Minister Shatter gave reassurances that he will raise the issue with the Garda Commissioner.
 Supt. P McCabe, Dept. N Coonan, Min. B Hayes, Insp. R Mulderrig, Local Deputy Noel Coonan has moved to alleviate concerns regarding future recruitment at Templemore Garda College. saying that, as the local Government TD, he is in constant contact with Justice Minister Alan Shatter who has been made “fully aware” of serious local concerns regarding gardaí recruitment to the college.
The local Fine Gael TD said that while the last 126 gardaí graduate from Templemore this Thursday, there are exciting new proposals for the Garda College, in the short term, which will ensure the college stays alive and vibrant.
“It was the previous Government who signed the EU/IMF bailout which included a commitment to cut garda numbers by 1,000 this year with further reductions signed for next year. With this in mind, management at the Garda College put in place intensive in-service training programmes that will lead to 30,000 bed nights in the college this year and 50,000 next year. Only last month, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) Brian Hayes also visited the Garda College, where he outlined the Government’s strong commitment to the establishment.
We discussed the facility’s future with Superintendent Pat McCabe and Inspector Ray Mulderrig and it was agreed that the Fine Gael-led Government is confidently advancing plans for An Garda Siochana’s tactical training unit in Clonmore, Templemore with foundations for a ‘skills building,’ expected to be completed during this Summer.” stated Deputy Coonan.
Deputy Coonan also stated there are other proposals being actively pursued that he hopes will come to fruition and it’s not all “doom and gloom,” for the college as portrayed in the national media.
“There is an opinion out there that the college is dying because student recruitment has halted, but there are discussions ongoing in the background that will ensure the continued survival of the establishment, which is crucial to the Templemore economy. I will be doing all in my power to ensure recruits and local employment are restored as soon as possible.” concluded Deputy Coonan.
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