Thurles Information

Police in Munster have severely setback the operations of a criminal gang, which has been terrorising communities across counties Limerick, Clare and Tipperary since the beginning of this year.

A dedicated Irish Garda operation, code-named Operation Safari, which is being led by Asst Commissioner Kevin Ludlow, former director of training at the Garda Training College in Templemore in Co Tipperary,  began approximately two months ago and in the past week over 40 houses and apartments in counties Limerick, North Cork and Tipperary have been searched simultaneously using over 120 uniformed Gardaí and detectives.

A large collection of stolen property, valued at tens of thousands of euro, have been systematically recovered during a series of pre-planned searches. Indeed, Gardai are still trying to establish if  property confiscated at these targeted premises, may also have been stolen by gang members.

Operation Safari, was activated to target the activities of this gang, following a dramatic increase in the number of reported burglaries and robberies across a number of Munster Garda Divisions, including Tipperary.

The targeted gang members are understood to has known links to the travelling community. Eight people are known to have been arrested at locations in Limerick and Tipperary and five men and one woman have subsequently appeared before Limerick District Court, charged with theft, fraud and road traffic offences.

Senior Gardaí believe there are still numerous core members of this gang, with strong  Limerick , Nenagh and Thurles connections, who operate a close operational network right across the country. Although this gang appears to be primarily based in the Limerick and Tipperary area, they have travelled widely to Clare, Cork,  Kerry and Waterford, where they have carried numerous pre-planned crimes, targeting private houses, co-ops, and offices and shops stealing jewellery, cash and high-powered cars. Two of these gang, who appeared recently before Limerick District Court were refused bail and the other four are due to appear again in court later this month following further investigations.

Gardai expect that further charges may be brought, in the near future, against others members suspected of involvement in this gangland operation.

Drivers of motor vehicles in “The Kingdom”, who have been detected speeding throughout Kerry county, are walking away from local courts without any conviction because of an apparent flaw in the Garda Central Processing Unit in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, which has responsibility for the issuing of “Fixed Penalty Notices”.
Already this year, at numerous court sittings in Kerry, hundreds of defendants, dressed sackcloth and ashes who tearfully admit their motor speeding transgressions and plead guilty,  have had their charges dismissed when they gave sworn evidence, stating that they never receiving notification of any fine imposed. The fact that so many penalty notices now appear to go undelivered on a weekly basis in Kerry, is a source of great concern among Kerry Gardaí, who attempt each day to publicly promote driver responsibility and greater road safety/awareness.

Normal Procedure:-

Normally, in this green and pleasant land, when a vehicle and driver are stopped for alleged speeding by Irish Police, their details are entered into what is known as a Fixed Charge Penalty System or FCPS.  These details are then forwarded to the Garda Central Processing Unit in Thurles, which mails the offending motorist a well deserved Penalty Notice via our national postal service, An Post.  Motorists are then given 28 days to respond to this notice. If the fine is not paid or a notice to appeal is not received within the required time limit, the penalty is increased and a further period of 28 days is given in which to make this payment. If no payment is received within 56 days, a court summons is issued to the offender.

In Kerry hundreds of defendants are turning up in local courts and giving sworn evidence of never having receiving such notices from Thurles, and it appears the presiding Judge is obliged to strike out the offence thus allowing drivers to escape conviction and the accompanying mandatory penalty points.

Let me see if I correctly understand this situation. You admit to a Court of law that you were speeding, thus endangering human life – not to mention breaking the law, but because you did not get an invoice, you avoid conviction and mandatory penalty points endorsed on your Driving Licence.

Does this administration of law appear reasonable just to you?

Thurles town is now being fast recognised as the ideal conferencing and employee training centre for business groups.

Why Thurles?

(a) – Its central location and positioning cuts back dramatically on associated costs, e.g. travelling expenses paid to delegate representing their respective trades and businesses from surrounding counties.
(b) – A more than adequate train service, but if you choose to drive here there is ample free and secure car parking available at all conference centres.
(c) – Costs, for essential overnight accommodation & food are considerably less than currently offered in larger Irish cities.
(d) – Essential fast IT broadband connection is available at all conferencing locations. (UPC -10113kbps download with1449kbps upload. Eircom – 3kbps download etc.)

It is not surprising therefore that the Law Society of Ireland should choose Thurles for their next seminar entitled “Changing the Traditional Methods of practice for Increased profitability“. The  Practice Management Task Force of the Law Society, established by the current President of the Law Society, Mr James McGuill will shortly host the first of these seminars in Thurles at the Horse and Jockey in Thurles, Co. Tipperary on 8th October, 2.00pm – 5.30pm.

One of the functions of this Task Force will be to ensure that Solicitors understand their cost base and obtain reasonable remuneration for the services they provide. This seminar will show members how to be profitable in challenging times and will highlight the benefits of changing the traditional methods of practice to achieve this aim.