Law « Thurles Information

Gardaí At Nenagh, In North Tipperary, To Host Property Marking Event.

Gardai at Nenagh in North Co. Tipperary will host a ‘Property Marking Event’ at Arrabawn Homevalue premises, latter situated at Tyone, South of Nenagh, on Wednesday next, May 1st, between the hours of 12:30pm and 3:30pm.

**‘Property Marking Event’**
*Picture courtesy of An Garda Síochána.*

Persons wishing to have items of property marked on that date, are reminded to please ensure they have their EIRCODE with them.

The machine being used can mark items including trailers, chainsaws, power tools, bicycles, lawnmowers, etc.

High Court Judge May Impose Custodial Sentence On Circuit Court Judge.

A former fifty-nine-year-old Circuit Court judge, who was also a former Dublin Secondary School Teacher; a Solicitor and a Thurles Fianna Fáil local District Councillor, is expected to be sentenced on May 29th next, having been found guilty of the sexual abuse/assault of six young men, some 30 years previously.

Mr Gerard O’Brien, a Thurles native, with an address at the Old School House, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, Co Tipperary, was earlier found guilty by a jury, in 2023, of one count of attempted rape and eight counts of sexual assault, in relation to the six unnamed complainants.

These offences are understood to have taken place in Dublin, between March 1991 and November 1997. Mr O’Brien was a secondary school teacher and aged in his late 20s and early 30s at that time, while the unnamed complainants were his students or former students. Latter were aged between 17 and 24 and are now aged in their 40s and early 50s.

Former barrister and now a Judge of the High Court since 2019; Mr Justice Alexander Owens has stated that it was likely he would impose a custodial sentence on Mr O’Brien and has asked for a report from the prison service about how they can meet Mr O’Brien’s needs in prison, in view of his obvious disabilities.

Mr O’Brien was born with the rare congenital condition, known as Phocomelia, which has resulted in him being born with no arms and only one leg; same injuries brought on by the congenital anomaly of the drug Thalidomide, brought into prominence as a characteristic side effect of the use of the drug thalidomide, used during pregnancy.

Mr O’Brien had initially denied all the allegations against him, but following the guilty verdict, he conveyed his resignation to the President in accordance with the requirements of section 6 (2) of the Courts (Establishment and Constitution) Act 1961, in early January of this year.

Mr Justice Alexander Owens has today questioned if the school could have done more to protect their students.

Some 51,000 Food Businesses To Benefit, As FSAI Launch New Learning Portal.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today announced the launch of its new ‘Learning Portal’, latter an easy-to-navigate digital platform designed to consolidate best-in-class compliance training content and resources on food safety and hygiene. The introduction of this new desktop and mobile compatible learning portal aims to strengthen adherence with food safety legal requirements and supplement the food safety training provided by food businesses to their staff.

The new learning portal, now available to more than 51,000 food businesses, is free to use and offers a wealth of specialised content to assist users in keeping up to date with the latest food safety requirements.
The learning portal’s materials can be easily incorporated into food safety courses, staff meetings, or used for self-learning, allowing learners to study at their own pace and convenience. It was developed to assist in building compliance by food businesses and it includes eLearning modules, webinars, short videos, and explanatory materials covering a broad range of relevant topics.

Welcoming the new learning resource, Dr Pamela Byrne, CEO, FSAI said: “The launch of the ‘Learning Portal’ underscores our commitment to ensuring the highest level of food safety standards are achieved across Ireland. It is imperative that all food businesses recognise the importance of food safety training and the consequences if their staff are not properly trained. Untrained staff can lead to serious non-compliances, which can put consumers’ health at risk. It is the food business’s legal requirement to ensure the food they are producing, selling or distributing is safe to eat. We believe ongoing training and development is an essential component of every food business. I strongly encourage all food businesses across the country to avail of this free resource to assist in creating an ongoing positive culture of food safety compliance in their business”.

The primary content areas of focus include:
Food Safety Culture: This module provides guidance on how to develop and maintain an appropriate food safety culture in a food business, in order to be able to demonstrate this to inspectors and customers. Food safety is legally required to be placed at the core of every food business.

Food Safety Controls in Ireland: This module outlines the role of the FSAI and other official agencies responsible for supervising food businesses in Ireland. It also provides training and information around the latest resources and supports available to food businesses to ensure the highest standards in operational food practices.

Why Food Safety Matters: A module designed to highlight and create understanding around the importance of food safety in protecting the public health and the risks associated with non-compliance.

Product Recall: In line with the latest Irish and EU legislation this topic includes easy to understand short videos outlining what steps need to be taken in the case of a product recall.

The FSAI calls on all food businesses and relevant food professionals to access the new ‘Learning Portal’ and take advantage of its valuable resources to enhance food safety practices across the country.

You can access the FSAI Learning Portal HERE.

Couple Detained After €125,000 Controlled Medication Seizure In Tipperary.

Two people, a male and female, have been arrested following the seizure, by a multi-agency led operation, of some 62,500 tablets suspected to be Alprazolam* and Clonazepam, following an intelligence led operation.

*According to press reports, alprazolam was found during the autopsies held on singer Whitney Housten and Hollywood actor Heath Ledger. High levels of alprazolam several times greater than its therapeutic range can contribute to death, due to its respiratory and central nervous system-depressant effects.

The controlled drugs are benzodiazepine medication, both of which are legitimately prescribed by qualified medical professionals, to treat anxiety and panic disorders, but are sold illegally as street drugs in almost every town and village in Ireland.

The tablets were discovered during a multi-agency operation carried out between Revenue; Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau; and the Tipperary Divisional Drugs Unit in Tipperary Town, yesterday evening.

The man arrested is understood to be aged in his 40s, while the woman is aged in her 30s. Further investigations continue, while the couple arrested remain held under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at a Garda station in Co. Tipperary.

Man In Thurles Court Charged With Dangerous Driving Resulting In Death.

Mr Sean Fitzpatrick, aged 21 years, of Killpurcell, Ballybrophy Co. Laois, came before Thurles District Court today, Tuesday, charged with dangerous driving, resulting in the death of a student named as Mr Adam Kirwan, aged 20 years, also from Co. Laois.

Mr Kirwan had been a student at Mary Immaculate College, (MIC), studying on the third level St. Patrick’s Campus, here in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

The deceased, sadly, lost his life following a single vehicle collision in the area of College Green, Monakeeba, in Thurles town, on March 2nd of last year, (2023). Sadly pronounced dead at the scene, Mr Kirwan’s body was removed to University Hospital Limerick (UHL), where a post-mortem examination later took place.

Two other female passengers in the motorised vehicle thankfully escaped injury.

Today, Mr Sean Fitzpatrick was again released on bail, to appear before Thurles District Court on June 25th next, when a prepared book of evidence will be served on the accused.