Law « Thurles Information

Templemore Garda College Welcomes Largest Intake Of Trainee Gardaí In Six Years.

201 trainees enter Templemore Garda College, Templemore, Co. Tipperary, in highest intake in over six years.
6,700 applications received in latest recruitment campaign.
149 new Gardaí were attested from Templemore Garda College last Friday.

201 trainees entered the Garda College in Templemore today Monday March 10th 2025, the highest number since 2019.
This intake follows the attestation of 149 new probationer Gardaí at a ceremony in Templemore on Friday last.

We understand that this high intake reflects the growing momentum in Garda recruitment.

The latest Garda recruitment campaign was launched in February last and received over 6,700 applications. This marks a continued increase on the 5,000 applications received in 2023 and the almost 6,400 last year.

Some 32% of applicants are female, while 42% of applicants are aged 30 years and over, and 23% of those detailed are from an ethnic background, sharing characteristics such as culture, language, religion, and traditions, other than being white Irish. This is important since An Garda Síochána is a community-focused policing service, and therefore should reflect diverse and thriving communities.

The Government is fully committed to strengthening An Garda Síochána by 5,000 members over the next five years.

Wanton Malicious Damage To Business Premises In Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

The windows and glass doors of two popular business premised situated on Liberty Square, in Thurles town centre, were severely damaged sometime over the past 24 hours.

*“Treasure Box”*, No. 36 Liberty Square, Thurles.

One of the premises and the building most severely damaged was a recently opened convenience store known as “Treasure box”, latter situated at No. 36 Liberty Square, (formerly Stakelum’s Ladies Boutique), close to Barry’s Bridge and opposite the medieval Butler Castle.

“**Roma”** **Fish & Chips Take Away at No. 59 Liberty Square**, **Thurles**.

The other businesses damaged were a Take Away Fish & Chips premises known as “Roma”, situated at No. 59, central on Liberty Square.

We understand that local investigating Gardaí are following a definite line of enquiry and have identified the individual involved in this senseless behaviour.

The reason for the malicious damage caused, is not fully understood, but locals strongly condemn it as a possible racist attack, by one badly informed individual.

Coffee Morning Saturday March 8th, In Support Of Women’s Aid.

Cashel Garda Station are to host a Coffee Morning, on Saturday March 8th next, 2025 in conjunction with Women’s aid National day.

Women’s Aid is a national feminist organisation working to prevent and address the prevalence of domestic abuse within Irish society; how it impacts especially women during pregnancy and how employers can lead in addressing domestic abuse within the workplace.

The coffee morning will run from 11:00am until 1:00pm and the public are invited to pop in for something nice, to help support a worthy cause or even for a bit of advice or information.

New Licencing & Regulatory Framework For Gambling Set To Commence.

Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland established effective from 5 March 2025.
Seven members to be appointed to independent authority, including chairperson Mr Paul Quinn.

An order for parts of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, enabling the Authority to become operational to establish Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, on a statutory basis, will now commence.

Seven members of this new, independent Authority, will be appointed and commence their roles with effect from tomorrow, March 5th, 2025. They will be the members of the Authority which will be responsible for regulating and licencing all gambling providers in the State and which will have wide ranging powers to regulate both in-person and online gambling, gaming and most lotteries.

Mr. Paul Quinn has been appointed as chair of the Authority and the other newly appointed members are named as follows:-
Ms. Celine Craig.
Ms. Marion Kelly.
Ms. Rita Purcell.
Mr. David Hickson.
Mr. Michael McGrath.
Dr. Colin O’Driscoll, (Ordinary Member).

Charter Deportations Flights From Ireland Have Recommenced.

It has been confirmed that chartered deportation flights have recommenced in order to enforce Ireland’s immigration laws. Yesterday, Thursday, 27th February, a chartered flight to Georgia, removed persons who were subject to Deportation Orders, from the Irish State.

This is the first operation conducted under a contract signed by the State, last November, for the provision of charter aircraft for these purposes. Further operations will be conducted as the year progresses.

Charter flights provide an alternative to commercial flights and can be more appropriate in circumstances when a group of individuals are being removed to the same destination.

A contract was signed in November last year for the provision of charter aircraft for deportation operation purposes. Access to these services has significantly increased the capacity of An Garda Síochána, to effect removals.

Enforced removals are carried out as a measure of last resort when the person concerned has not removed themselves from the State or availed of assisted voluntary return measures.

In this instance, the people concerned were Georgian nationals and the flight left Dublin Airport on Thursday night before landing in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Friday morning.

The returnees were accompanied on the flight by Garda personnel, medical staff, an interpreter and a human rights observer.