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Garda interactions prior to the death of Tipperary pensioner Mrs Josephine (Joan) Ray, on Sunday afternoon August 4th 2024, at St Joseph’s Park, Nenagh, North Co. Tipperary, is set to be referred to the Garda ombudsman.
Same decision comes after a series of investigations into the 89-year-old’s tragic murder.
Two arrests, (a male and a female), made over the past number of days, saw both released without charge in connection with her murder.
The murdered pensioner’s case raises significant public interest; bringing earlier actions taken by gardaí under scrutent, with regards to the actual circumstances surrounding her murder. It is expected that the ombudsman will review such interactions thus ensuring greater accountability and transparency.
The government has, today Monday August 12th, announced increases to fines imposed on carriers who do not comply with their obligations to ensure passengers have appropriate travel documentation.
The Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024, increases the fines on carriers to a maximum of €5,000 from the previous maximum of €3,000. Two orders have now been signed to give effect to these increased fines which will apply to carriers, such as airlines and ferry companies, with effect from August 12th 2024; observed by many as “closing the stable door after the horse has bolted”.
Earlier this year, a review of Ireland’s carrier liability standards was undertaken, as the level of fines had remained unchanged since the commencement of the legislation back in 2003. This review recommended an increase in penalties for carriers who do not take sufficient action to ensure passengers travelling to Ireland have appropriate travel documentation upon embarking.
These increases take account of inflation and bring Ireland into closer alignment with the penalties imposed on carriers across Europe.
It is intended to introduce further measures, including guidelines to assist carriers and consideration of the feasibility of a dynamic fines model, which recognises carriers who strongly enforce documentation requirements, at a later date.
A number of actions have been taken to reduce the number of people arriving without documents and to strengthen the immigration system as a whole.
These measures include introducing visa requirements to travel to Ireland, from a number of additional states and the expansion of accelerated processing of International Protection applications.
The government has also provided specific funding for the Garda Airport Liaison Officer programme, and increased resources for the Border Management Unit (BMU) and the International Protection Office.
BMU and Garda National Immigration Bureau carry out doorstop operations at airports to target those who destroy documents in-flight. These are intelligence led operations based on trends observed by immigration officials, who will conduct initial document checks as passengers disembark an aircraft in order to establish a person’s true identity and nationality. Approximately 4,500 ‘doorstop’ operations were carried out in the first half of 2024.
Last year, saw a reduction of one third in the number of persons arriving at Dublin Airport without the correct documentation. The numbers arriving without the correct documentation for 2024 are on-course to approximately be 50% of that in 2022.
In addition, An Garda Síochána have arrested 115 people in the first half of 2024 for arriving without appropriate documentation and a significant number have been convicted.
Two persons, both understood to be aged in their 50s, have been arrested in connection with the murder of Mrs Josephine ‘Josie’ Ray, (née O’Meara), St Joseph’s Park, Nenagh, North Co. Tipperary.
Mrs Ray, who was also affectionately known as Joan, was found murdered at her home in St Joseph’s Park, Nenagh on Sunday afternoon last.
Ms Ray’s funeral took place following Requiem Mass at St Mary of the Rosary Church, Church Road, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary today, where she was remembered as a “woman of remarkable presence” who was a “beacon” of the town.
This afternoon, Gardaí have confirmed that two people; a man and a woman, have since been arrested, as a result of Garda ongoing investigation.
Gardaí continue to investigate all the circumstances surrounding the murder of Mrs Ray and the people arrested remain detained, under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, and are being held at unnamed Garda stations in the southern region.
The Office of the State Pathologist provides a national, year-round forensic pathology service here in Ireland, offering independent expert advice on matters relating to forensic pathology and performing post mortem examinations in criminal, suspicious or unusual deaths.
State pathologists are often required to attend and give evidence in coronial, criminal or civil courts or sometimes to attend crime scenes.
The report notes the wide range of valuable work conducted by the Office throughout 2023, including 400 cases of which 48%, or 192, were State forensic cases.
Speaking on the team’s work in 2023, Professor Linda Mulligan said: “The Office of the State Pathologist collaborates with a huge number of stakeholders to ensure the highest standards of practice. In 2023, we reviewed our paper-based processes in line with the Department of Justice environmental policy and introduced paperless reporting to coroners. We also had important input into the development of the Human Tissue Act 2024, and we continue to work with the HSE, Faculty of Pathology, and the Department of Justice to support the reform of the coronial autopsy service.”
The team provides expert input to many boards and advisory groups, including the Autopsy Quality Improvement Committee, the HSE mortuary improvement programme, and the Faculty of Pathology RCPI.
2023 marked Professor Linda Mulligan’s third year as Chief State Pathologist.
The Office enjoyed a full team for most of the year, with a Chief State Pathologist, two State Pathologists, two Deputy State Pathologists (one of whom departed in November 2023), and a locum State pathologist based in Cork.
Reflecting on 2023, Professor Linda Mulligan said: “The support and governance offered by the Department of Justice have allowed us to continue to expand and strengthen the work that we do. We will keep striving towards the highest standards of practice in forensic pathology, with the ultimate aim of providing the best possible service to bereaved families and loved ones across Ireland, as well as the Coroners, An Garda Síochána and the Courts.”
As already stated: During 2023, 400 cases were dealt with by the Office of the state Pathologist (this figure was 417 in 2022, 327 in 2021, 345 in 2020, 335 in 2019 and 286 in 2018). Of these 192, or 48%, were state forensic cases.
Attendance at the scene of death was recorded in approximately 4% of cases. (This figure was 26 of 213 cases (12%) in 2022.)
The Office, at the direction of the Dublin District Coroner, carried out 161 adult non-suspicious post mortem examinations.
There were 36 cases of endoskeleton remains, 17 of which were documented as animal bones, 19 as human bones.
Note: The full 2023 Annual Report of the Office of the State Pathologist can be read HERE.
A Garda investigation is under way following the death of a woman whose body was discovered in Nenagh, North Co. Tipperary.
The body of the woman, named locally as Ms Joan Ray, and understood to be aged in her 80s, was located at a residence in St Joseph’s Park, Nenagh, on Sunday afternoon last. The woman’s body was removed to University Hospital Limerick, where a post-mortem examination was carried out yesterday; the results of which are not being released for operational reasons.
A senior Garda investigating officer has been appointed to further investigate all the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.
An appeal for information has also been requested, with Gardaí looking to speak to anyone who was in the St Joseph’s Park area of Nenagh, between the hours of 8:00pm on Saturday August 3rd, and midday on Sunday August 4th.
Gardaí are also appealing to motorists with dashcam footage, to make contact. Any person with information is asked to contact Nenagh Garda Station at TEL. 067-50450, the Garda Confidential Line on TEL. 1800 666 111 or indeed any Garda station.
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