Law - Thurles Information

New Garda Recruitment Campaign.

Significant increase in training allowance.
New trainees to receive €305 per week.
Change to age requirements opens role to 35 to 50 year olds for first time.

The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, has welcomed the new recruitment campaign for An Garda Síochána, which opens for applications today and closes on Thursday 8 February.

Noting that recruitment into An Garda Síochána has accelerated following the forced closure of the Garda College to intakes, due to Covid-19, the Minister said: “I am very pleased to see Garda recruits once again regularly entering training at Templemore, and this competition will ensure there is a continuous pipeline of new trainees.
As a government we allocated the highest ever budget of €2.3 billion to An Garda Síochána for 2024. That included funding for between 800 and 1,000 new Gardaí, and I hope, and indeed expect, that there will be a strong response to this campaign.
I encourage anyone who believes they can make a positive contribution as a Garda to consider putting their name forward.
Policing is a career in which no two days will be the same – it can be exciting, rewarding and undoubtedly challenging, but it offers a great opportunity to have a positive impact in the community and to be a part of a modern, inclusive police service that has the respect and trust of the Irish public.”

The last Garda recruitment campaign which closed in April 2023, received approximately 5,000 applications.

Both the Government and Garda Commissioner have said they are committed to reflecting the increasing diversity in Irish Society by ensuring that all communities see themselves reflected in An Garda Síochána. The Garda Commissioner has also put a strong focus on equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from people of all backgrounds to join An Garda Síochána through this campaign.

Noting recent changes made to the eligibility requirements and increased training allowance, Minister McEntee added: “We have significantly increased the training allowance for trainee Gardaí, to €305 per week. Given that, and the decision to increase the maximum age of recruitment from 35 to 50, I believe we are opening up policing as a career option to a new cohort of people who will bring a range of different life and career experiences to the table.
Across 2023 we have seen recruitment into An Garda Síochána gain real momentum. And with unprecedented funding recently allocated for equipment and wellbeing initiatives, and recent increases in frontline supervisors, I believe those who join will be supported as they take on what I know can be a challenging job.
Our Gardaí do vital work every day investigating crime, supporting victims and maintaining the security of the state. Given that my top priority is building stronger, safer communities, I want to express my gratitude to them for their outstanding dedication and commitment and I hope this competition will lead to many more joining their ranks.”

Prospective candidates can visit publicjobs.ie for more information on how to apply.

Closing Date for the competition is Thursday 8th February 2024.

Tipperary Woman Banned From Owning Dogs Continues To Race Greyhounds.

A North Co. Tipperary woman, latter banned by Nenagh District Court on May 12th 2022 last, from owning dogs for 10 years, has continued to race greyhounds following a court ruling.

A comprehensive report has now been prepared for the Department of Agriculture in which Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI) – [Irish – Rásaíocht Con Éireann, latter formerly the Irish Greyhound Board], have outlined certain concerns regarding a possible breach of this 2022 existing court order, which was issued to Ms Michelle Connolly, Killard, Puckaun, Nenagh, Co Tipperary relating to her future ownership of dogs.

It was at Nenagh District Court that Ms Connolly had pleaded guilty to seven offences under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. Same guilty pleas related to three dogs, (two Maltese and a Poodle named Milly, Dolce, and Adam).
Judge Ms Elizabeth McGrath had forfeited the dogs to the care of the ISPCA and fined Ms Connolly a total of €2,000, plus ISPCA costs, and disqualified her from owning, keeping or breeding any dog for 10 years, (other than two Great Danes, she already held in her possession).
It was following a complaint, that the ISPCA had initially visited Ms Connolly’s property, on February 2nd 2019. The findings regarding the 3 animals, latter found located in a small cage behind a trailer at her property, were described by an ISPCA Inspector as being unacceptable. Photographic evidence showed one had red raw skin, another was considered underweight with matted hair and suffering a discharge, and a third dog had no hair on its tail and a portion of its hind quarters.

Greyhound Racing Ireland have now stated that following the court order, which issued back in May 2022; the case is now a matter for the courts in the context of any possible breach of the order previously issued.

Greyhound Racing Ireland have established there were no greyhounds in the immediate care of Ms Connolly, at her home, and that all greyhounds currently registered to her were with licenced trainers. The last registered activity of greyhounds, understood to be owned by Ms Connolly in Ireland, was last March, at Curraheen Park Greyhound Stadium, latter venue located in Bishopstown, West Co. Cork, when her greyhound ‘Paper Moon’ raced for the eighth time since her May 2022 court order.
Ms Connolly is also understood to have trialled ‘Hot Throttle’ at the same track, where the majority of her greyhound activity had taken place.
It was in the United Kingdom that Ms Connolly had entered into a collaboration with British champion greyhound trainer Mr Mark Wallis and her partner Mr Mike Davis in 2021.

The Greyhound Board of Great Britain is aware of Ms Connolly’s previous court conviction under the Animal Health and Welfare Act, handed out here in the Republic of Ireland and are understood to be involved in their own investigations.

A Further Two Arrests Made Following Fatal Assault In West Tipperary.

Gardaí currently investigating the fatal assault of a man, which occurred on December 27th last in Co. Tipperary, have made two further arrests.
The body of the polish man, aged 32 years, and named as Mr Maciej Nowak, was located at a rented house in Ballycrana, Kilross, Co. Tipperary.

We understand that two men, both aged in their 30s, were arrested on Monday evening last, in the Dublin area, as part of continuing Garda investigations

Both men are being currently detained under section 30 of the Offences against the State Act, 1939 at a Garda Station in County Tipperary.

Another man has already ben brought before Nenagh court, on Wednesday, January 3rd, last charged with assault causing harm to Mr Nowak.

Garda Investigations are continuing.

Department Of Justice Condemns Criminal Acts Of Arson.

Minister for Justice Mrs Helen McEntee TD, has in recent days, strongly condemned criminal acts of arson.

The Minister stated, “People need to understand these are very serious crimes which carry heavy prison sentences and those who have carried them out will be brought to justice.
I have been in regular contact with the Garda Commissioner and I have reassured him that any resources required will be made available to him. Meanwhile, An Garda Síochána is doing everything possible to investigate these recent acts of arson. I understand they are making good progress in their investigations and I encourage anyone with any information in relation to any of these incidents to contact them”.

Mrs McEntee continued, “I also ask anyone with information either on past incidents or about possible upcoming threats to contact their local Gardaí. It is clear that a group of people in society are intent on sowing division and fear through intimidation. I repeat that there can never be justification for such acts, regardless of circumstances or alleged motivation.
An Garda Síochána and IPAS continue to work closely together to ensure effective policing plans are in place wherever there is an identified operational need.
Where accommodation centres are being established, IPAS notifies and engages with local communities through their Community Engagement Team in advance.
Gardaí are continually monitoring emerging threats, including monitoring social media activity, and stepping up policing responses as necessary”.

“Both my Department and I are fully committed to the fight against racism and bigotry and strongly condemn the actions of those who abuse and attack others because of their own prejudices. Ireland is a diverse and tolerant country, and such behaviour is not acceptable”, she concluded.

Review Of Enforcement Of Child Maintenance Orders Now Published.

Review’s 26 recommendations include developing child maintenance guidelines, strengthening attachment of earnings orders and introducing additional enforcement mechanisms
Minister for Justice signals intention to move swiftly to implementation and also welcomes co-operation of Government colleague Minister Humphreys
Notes that publication fulfils a key action within the Government’s Family Justice Strategy goal of ‘supporting children’.

The Review of the Enforcement of Child Maintenance Orders has been published today.
Carried out to examine how the current system can be improved, this published review, now contains 26 recommendations, spanning three different approaches; those of consensus, compliance and deterrence.

Commenting on its publication, Minister for Justice Mrs Helen McEntee, TD said: “Non-payment of child maintenance is a common problem and the current enforcement options available are limited in scope and impact.
This is clearly unacceptable, given the critical source of income which it can represent. That is why, working with Minister Humphreys, I am determined to take action in this area to ensure that every child is properly supported.”

Referring to the content of the review, she continued: “These recommendations are designed to deliver maximum compliance with child maintenance orders, and that is why I intend to commence the implementation process immediately. That will involve establishing an interdepartmental group to develop a set of child maintenance guidelines and I will do that without delay.
At a later point, I will seek government approval for other recommendations which will require legislative change to ensure I do everything I can to ensure security and stability for children.
My colleague Minister Humphreys is also looking at what actions she can take and I welcome her intention to bring forward measures in the near future which will also help alleviate the risk of poverty for families in this situation.”

Minister Humphreys added: “I very much welcome these steps taken by Minister McEntee, which are designed to make our Child Maintenance System fairer and more effective. Child maintenance payments are essential in ensuring security and stability for children and protecting the welfare of families.
My own Department of Social Protection plays a key role in this regard and very shortly I will be announcing the legislative measures I am introducing to decouple social welfare from our Child Maintenance System, in line with the recommendations of the Child Maintenance Review Group”.

The key recommendations of the review include:

Development of a set of child maintenance guidelines.
Strengthening attachment of earnings orders and exploring the possibility of attaching an order to a PPS number rather than employing entities, so that orders do not lapse when there is a change in employer.
Introduction of a single enforcement procedure when the receiving parent makes an enforcement application, allowing the judge to choose the most appropriate enforcement option based on the circumstances of the case.
Simplification of the bench warrant process.
Placing the onus on paying parents to pay costs associated with enforcement proceedings.
Allowing deductions from the paying parent’s bank accounts, from government grants and subsidies and the recovery of arrears from tax refunds.

Making the point that the review has its place in the Family Justice Strategy 2022-2025 – that of ‘supporting children’, Minister McEntee continued: “I am aware that many parents make private child maintenance arrangements. However, there will always be circumstances in which private arrangements either break down or are not possible.
In these circumstances, the courts are tasked with safeguarding the financial welfare of children and it is my firm intention that this review, along with the changes being progressed through the Family Justice Strategy will lead to a family justice system that is effective, efficient and that provides real justice.”

A copy of the Review of the Enforcement of Child Maintenance Orders can be accessed HERE.