Law « Thurles Information

Report Entitled Operation Of ‘In Camera’ Rule In Family Law Published.

Research report entitled “Operation of In Camera Rule in Family Law Proceedings” now published.

Today the Review of the Operation of the ‘In Camera’ Rule in Family Law proceedings was published. The review, latter a key action in the Family Justice Strategy, was conducted by a team from University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin.

Some types of court proceedings, including family law proceedings, are not open to members of the public; they are held in private; or what is often termed ‘in camera’, with restrictions placed on what can be reported. The intention behind this is to ensure the privacy of the parties in such proceedings and any children to whom those proceedings may relate.

This is being observed as an important piece of research which details the perspectives of many stakeholders regarding the current understanding and operation of the ‘in camera’ rule in family law proceedings. Importantly, it includes the views of those who have been parties in such proceedings, with the authors of this report being Dr Aisling Parkes, Dr Simone McCaughren and Dr Kenneth Burns.

Currently, the starting point for any consideration of the ‘in camera’ rule, whether in family law proceedings or otherwise, is Article 34.1 of the Constitution which provides that justice shall be administered in public, save such special and limited cases as may be prescribed by law.

The new report contains 21 recommendations in total, including:

The need to retitle the rule to ensure it is understood by all family court users.
That it is clearly and consistently defined.
That its operation does not impede parties accessing support outside Court.

The report also recommends that family law proceedings continue to be held in private, and that the privacy rights of children and parties to proceedings be maintained. It recommends that the Court should retain its discretion to lift the rule in cases where it is deemed to be in the interest of justice to do so.

The report also contains a number of recommendations to promote greater transparency, including that there should be a presumptive right for all journalists and other authorised members of the media who are members of the Irish Press Council and subscribe to its ethics and standards and/or those of Coimisiún na Meán (Media Commission) to attend family law proceedings.

It also recommends that a private family law reporting system be established.

Officials will now consider this report and revert by the end of this year with policy proposals for government consideration that will reform the ‘in camera’ rule.
In the coming weeks a tender is expected to be issued for the establishment of a Private Family Law Reporting Project.

Only 18 Gardaí Cover Mid-West Region Drug Unit.

New GNIB Facilities Planned for Shannon Airport.

Fine Gael Deputy Mr Joe Cooney is calling for increased resourcing to tackle the illegal drug trade across the Mid-West region, after figures released to the Clare Fine Gael TD reveal that there are just 18 Garda members assigned to the Clare/Tipperary Divisional Drugs Unit.

In response to a Parliamentary Question (PQ), the Minister for Justice, Mr Jim O’Callaghan, said that 15 Gardaí and 3 Sergeants are currently attached to the Divisional Drugs Unit, which covers an area stretching from Loop Head Lighthouse, West Clare – to Ballyvaughan, North Clare – to Carrick-on-Suir, South Tipperary.

Deputy Cooney stated, “Tackling drug dealing and targeting the work of organised crime groups, who inflict intimidation, violence, and misery on families and communities across Ireland, must be a top priority for this Government.
I fully support the measures being taken at national level as part of Government plans to tackle illegal drug use, but there is a need for greater resourcing of our Drugs Units.
Measures such as increasing the maximum sentences for those who direct gangland and drug-related crime, and introducing initiatives aimed at breaking the link between gangs and the children they try to recruit, are welcome,” he explained.
“However, the resourcing of our Drugs Units remains our most effective tool for taking drugs off our streets and cracking down on those directly engaged in drug trafficking.”

He continued: “The Clare/Tipperary Divisional Drugs Unit has been doing outstanding work in tackling the scourge of illegal drugs in our communities — but they urgently need more resources to sustain and strengthen that effort. I am calling on the Minister for Justice and Garda management to allocate additional personnel and resources to the Divisional Drugs Unit to support the great work they are doing as highlighted in recent significant seizures. We need to ensure that Gardaí on the front lines of this fight have the tools, support, and numbers required to disrupt drug networks, protect our young people, and safeguard our towns and rural communities.
Drugs are destroying lives and tearing families apart. A strong, well-resourced Divisional Drugs Unit is critical to turning the tide and restoring a sense of safety and security across Clare and Tipperary,” he added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Cooney has received confirmation from the Minister for Justice of plans to develop new facilities for the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) at Shannon Airport.

In response to the Clare TD’s PQ on the GNIB, Minister O’Callaghan said the Shannon Airport Group is currently developing a design scheme to redevelop the Arrivals Hall, including new, modern facilities for the GNIB and other State functions.

The Minister commented, “The GNIB, and other State bodies, have recently approved the design layout for their new accommodation and the next step is the commencement of the tender process by the Shannon Airport Group. The works, which will be required to be phased to ensure the continuation of services, are currently expected to be complete in 2027, subject to agreement on funding and the appropriate governance approvals being in place.”

As of May 2025, 13 Gardaí are based at Shannon Airport, consisting of both Sergeant and Garda ranks.

Anniversary Of Dublin & Monaghan Bombings.

Here in Co. Tipperary today, we again remember the two victims of the Dublin bombings; both murdered in the city, 51 years ago this very day, 17th May 1974.

In Dublin city car bombs were detonated without warning during rush hour, resulting in the murder of Miss Breda Turner, Thurles, Co. Tipperary aged 21 years and Mrs Maureen Shields, aged 46 years, originally from the village of Hollyford, west Co. Tipperary.

Mrs Shields, married with one son and two daughters, was murdered in the Talbot Street explosion, while Miss Turner, who was then engaged to be married on the following Easter, was murdered in the Parnell Street explosion.

It is at this time also that we remember Mr George Bradshaw, aged 30 years, a bus conductor from Fethard, Co. Tipperary, who was a victim of the Dublin bombing of December 1st 1972, at Sackville Place, in the city.

Statement by the Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan on the 51st Anniversary of Dublin and Monaghan Bombings.

“Today marks the 51st anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, a devastating series of coordinated explosions in Dublin city centre and in Monaghan town.
Today, we remember all those that tragically lost their lives and we remember the survivors of the bombings. We think of their families and friends whose loved ones were injured or killed, and who have carried unbearable loss and traumatic memories for over five decades.
The Government will not forget our duty to the victims and survivors, and we will persevere in our efforts to seek out the truth behind the tragic events of 17 May 1974 and, hopefully, secure some measure of comfort for those effected by these callous attacks.
We have worked consistently to implement the all-party motions which call on the British Government to allow access to all relevant documents relating to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings and I specifically raised this issue with the British Government at the recent meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference at Hillsborough Castle.
The investigation into the bombings remains an open case in this jurisdiction. Any new evidence that comes to light will be fully investigated by An Garda Síochána.
The Government is committed to working with victims’ groups and our Northern Ireland and British counterparts to develop fit-for-purpose mechanisms to meet the needs and expectations of all those impacted by those dark days, including the victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. We will play our full part in legacy processes including addressing the legacy of the conflict in this jurisdiction.”

Former Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman, Baroness Nuala O’Loan (Member of House of Lords
of the United Kingdom), previously found that Special Branch officers gave the killers immunity,
thus ensuring that the murderers were never brought to justice.

Thurles Student Jailed For Dangerous Driving Causing Death Of Friend.

Mr Sean Fitzpatrick with an address at Kilpurcell, Ballybrophy, Portlaoise, Co Laois, aged 22 year, has been jailed for 18 months, after he admitted to dangerous driving causing the death of a college friend, when they were both on a night out together, in Thurles, Co Tipperary, in March of 2023.
The accident occurred at College Green, Monakeeba, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court were informed that Mr Fitzpatrick had driven for more than a kilometre with the late Mr Adam Kirwan standing on the door frame, hanging out the driver’s door, with one hand on the roof of the car and the other on the open driver’s door.

Sadly Mr Kirwan, aged 20 and a former Laois minor and under-20 hurler, died when the car driven by Mr Fitzpatrick hit a kerb, after he misjudged a corner, in a single vehicle collision, less than 50 metres from their intended accommodation that fatal night, in Thurles town.

Both young men had been studying to become teachers and were attending, as students at Mary Immaculate College (Previously St Patrick’s College Seminary ), Cathedral Street, in Thurles.

Mr Fitzpatrick admitted driving with excess alcohol causing death and driving without motor insurance. Both men had been on a night out with a third college friend when they decided to move Mr Kirwan’s car from a car park in Thurles, in case the car received a parking fine, before they could retrieve it the following morning.

Both men drank pints of beer and ‘Jagerbombs’ (a shot of Jägermeister flavoured liquor, usually mixed with an energy drink), while watching a match in a local pub, before later attending a house party on the night.

Considered less intoxicated, Mr Fitzpatrick drove the car, however, his alcohol reading was found to be more than twice the acceptable drink driving limit.

Mr Kirwan clung onto the roof and the open door of the moving vehicle for the 1.3km journey (0.80mls) from the centre of Thurles to the house where they were being accommodated

Mobile video footage was played in court at the sentencing hearing, recorded by a third passenger, who sat in the rear seat of the vehicle together with Closed-Circuit Television video (CCTV) footage gathered by investigating Gardaí.

Presiding Judge Ms Catherine Staines sentenced Mr Fitzpatrick to three years in jail, with the final 18 months suspended. In sentencing the Judge stated that Mr Kirwan’s death was what resulted when people mixed drinking with dangerous driving.

Health & Environment At Risk As Half Of Septic Tanks Fail Inspection.

Half of septic tanks failed inspection, putting householders’ health and environment at risk, says EPA.

Local authorities completed 1,390 septic tank inspections in 2024, targeted near rivers and household drinking water wells which are most at risk of contamination by faulty septic tanks.
56% of septic tanks failed inspection. It is critically important that householders maintain their septic tanks as such failures have the potential to be a risk to their family’s health and the environment.
82% of septic tanks that failed during 2013–2024 were fixed by the end of 2024, which shows continued improvement. This has been aided by an increased uptake in grants.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the report on Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2024, which details the findings of septic tank inspections completed by local authorities in 2024.

Domestic waste water treatment systems, mostly septic tanks, are used by householders to treat sewage. There are nearly half a million systems in Ireland. The EPA’s National Inspection Plan 2022-2026 requires local authorities to complete a minimum of 1,200 inspections annually, targeted near rivers and in areas where septic tanks are co-located with household drinking water wells. 1,390 septic tanks were inspected in 2024 with 56% (773) failing because they were not built or maintained properly.

When septic tanks fail inspection, local authorities issue advisory notices to householders setting out what is required to fix the problem. The EPA report found that 82% of septic tanks that failed during 2013–2024 were fixed, (81% in Co. Tipperary) up from 75% at the end of 2021. The number of advisory notices open more than two years decreased for the first time, from 576 at the end of 2023, to 523 at the end of 2024.

Water Authority.	Inspections Required 2024	Inspections done 2024.	Failure rate 2024	Systems failing 2013-2024.	Percent fixed at end 2024.
Tipperary.	40.	42.	31%	182.	81%

Commenting on the report, Dr Micheál Lehane, (Director of the EPA’s Office of Radiation Protection and Environmental Monitoring) said: “The reduction in the number of old advisory notices (over two years) is to be welcomed, however, the number not resolved remains unacceptably high, allowing risks to public health and the environment to continue. Greater and sustained enforcement effort is needed by local authorities during their annual septic tank inspections, checking that faulty septic tanks are fixed and taking legal action where necessary.”

The grant schemes for remediation of septic tanks were changed at the start of 2024 to increase the amount from €5,000 to €12,000 and remove the requirement to have registered the septic tank in 2013. There were 265 grants awarded in 2024, totalling nearly €2.5 million, up from 194 grants in 2023.

Mr Noel Byrne, (EPA Programme Manager) said: “More than half of septic tanks failed inspection, which is a real concern. Householders’ water supplies and local rivers may be exposed to contamination from faulty septic tanks, which can pose a serious health risk to individuals and the local environment. By maintaining their septic tank and fixing any problems identified, householders will protect their health and the environment. Householders should take advantage of the enhanced grants where applicable.”

The National Inspection Plan for Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems 2022 – 2026 was published by the EPA in 2021. The plan requires a minimum of 1,200 inspections from 2023 onwards. There was a shortfall in inspections by four local authorities (Limerick, Donegal, Wexford and Leitrim) in 2024 and these need to be completed in 2025. The EPA will continue to monitor local authorities that are required to make up these shortfalls in 2025.

The report, Domestic Waste Water Treatment System Inspections 2024, is available on the EPA’s website.