A 29-year-old Tipperary man has pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the attempted murder of Mr Patrick Williams, in Ballylooby last year.
Mr Luke Caplice, of Knockane, Ballylooby, Co Tipperary, entered the guilty plea on Friday, July 31, to attempting to murder Mr Williams at Knockane, Cruboge, Tipperary, on October 11th, 2025.
Previous court reports stated that Mr Williams, who was then aged 42, suffered serious burn injuries after being doused with petrol and set alight. He reportedly spent several weeks in hospital receiving treatment.
The court heard that Mr Caplice is currently being held in Limerick Prison, but is “anxious to be sentenced in Dublin”.
Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the case until November 2nd, 2026, and directed that a victim impact statement be prepared ahead of sentencing.
A second man was previously charged in connection with the incident. Those proceedings are separate, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Born Clothing Group, Including Former Thurles Outlet, now at Centre of €1m Thai Villas High Court Claim.
The collapsed Born Clothing group, which previously operated a store in Thurles Shopping Centre, County Tipperary, is at the centre of High Court proceedings concerning the alleged use of almost €1 million in company funds to purchase two luxury villas in Thailand. The retail group operated 15 shops around Ireland before entering liquidation with reported debts of €7.82 million. This included approximately €2.2 million owed to the Irish Revenue Commissioners.
Thurles Shopping Centre, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
The allegations have been made by the company’s joint liquidators, Mr David O’Connor and Mr Ian Barrett. They claim that Mr John Curley, whom they describe as the group’s de facto managing director and “controlling mind”, used company money to acquire the Thai properties for his personal benefit, while the businesses were experiencing serious financial difficulties. Mr Curley strongly disputes the liquidators’ account. He maintains that the properties were purchased under a voluntary co-investment arrangement with the company. He claims that he contributed €220,000 and was entitled to a 30 per cent interest in the villas, although the properties were registered solely in his name.
The liquidators allege that various payments totalling close to €1 million were transferred from the company between April 2022 and November 2024 to fund the purchases. One of the properties is reportedly believed to have generated rental income of approximately €3,505 per month through the Kamala Falls Residential Resort.
Mr Curley has said that he was an employee of an associated company, Elland Distributors Ltd, earning €24,000 annually, and that he acted under the instructions of those controlling the business. However, the liquidators claim that he exercised substantial influence over Born Clothing’s daily operations. They say this included dealing with staff, negotiating with landlords and providing personal guarantees connected with company financing. Mr Curley had previously served as a company director before resigning in 2011.
The court was also told that he had the use of a BMW 7 Series company car reportedly worth approximately €110,000. The liquidators believe the vehicle remains in his possession. Born Clothing’s sole registered director at the time of liquidation was Joan Lynch. According to the liquidators, Ms Lynch has said that she knew nothing about the alleged co-investment arrangement involving the Thai villas.
At a one-sided preliminary hearing on Friday, Judge Brian Cregan permitted the liquidators to serve proceedings at short notice. They are seeking injunctions preventing Mr Curley from selling or otherwise disposing of the villas, along with declarations that he holds the properties on trust for the company. No final findings have been made against Mr Curley, and the allegations remain strongly contested.
The matter is due to return before a vacation sitting of the High Court on August 12th 2026.
The case will be of particular local interest in Thurles and across County Tipperary, where Born Clothing formerly operated from Thurles Shopping Centre before the nationwide closure of the retail group.
The Irish Government has confirmed the deportation of six Nigerian nationals, following a coordinated return operation involving Irish authorities and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex.
The six men, all aged between 25 and 40, were removed from Ireland on a charter flight from Dublin Airport to Rome before joining a Frontex-managed flight to Lagos, Nigeria.
The Dublin flight departed at 7:40 a.m. and arrived in Rome at 10:34 a.m. Irish time. The onward flight left Rome shortly after 1:00 p.m. and landed in Lagos at approximately 9:00 p.m.
According to the Government, deportation orders had been issued against all six individuals. Five of the men had accumulated a combined total of 35 criminal convictions and had received sentences for a range of offences.
Officials said the operation formed part of ongoing efforts to enforce immigration laws, remove individuals involved in criminal activity and maintain public confidence in Ireland’s immigration system.
The Government also highlighted the operational and financial benefits of working with Frontex and other European partners on joint return operations.
Members of An Garda Síochána accompanied the deportees, alongside medical personnel, an interpreter and an independent human rights observer.
The aircraft used for the Irish stage of the operation cost €76,895, excluding VAT.
Further charter deportation operations are expected to take place throughout 2026.
Gardaí have confirmed that an investigation is under way following the discovery of a man’s body in the Galtee Mountains in County Tipperary.
The body was found on Monday morning, July 27th, and was subsequently removed from the scene.
The local coroner has been notified, and a post-mortem examination is due to take place. Gardaí said they are investigating all the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.
The results of the examination are expected to help establish what happened.
The incident is currently understood to have been a tragic accident, with no foul play suspected at this stage.
Parents and guardians across Ireland are being urged to speak to their children about dangerous online networks that manipulate young people into harming themselves, committing violence or producing sexually explicit material.
Irish cases connected to this disturbing online culture have reportedly been referred to Tusla, while An Garda Síochána has participated in an Europol operation targeting a network known as “The Com.” One of the best-known groups associated with this network is called “764.”
These are not necessarily organised groups with easily identifiable members. They operate through changing usernames, private chats and online communities. Children may encounter those involved through social media, messaging services or online games. Gardaí have specifically warned that individuals associated with groups such as 764 may encourage or pressure children to commit crimes, self-harm or adopt violent and radicalised beliefs. The manipulation can begin with friendship, attention or a shared interest. An offender may then obtain private information or intimate images and use threats, humiliation or blackmail to control the child. Demands can escalate into self-harm, violence, cruelty towards animals or abuse of another person.
Warning signs for parents – Watch for sudden changes such as: Secretive online activity or several new accounts. Panic when a phone or gaming device is removed. Messages from unknown people at unusual hours. Unexplained injuries, self-harm or violent behaviour. Threats involving private photographs or personal information. A child being instructed to record, photograph or livestream something. Sudden withdrawal, fear, shame or extreme anxiety. The above signs do not necessarily prove that a child is involved, but they should never be ignored.
What parents should do. Have a calm conversation rather than immediately blaming or punishing the child. Make it clear that they will not be in trouble for telling you what has happened. Do not confront suspected offenders yourself. Preserve usernames, messages, dates and links where it is safe to do so. Do not download, copy or forward sexual images involving anyone under 18. Report an immediate threat to life or safety by calling 999 or 112. Other suspected criminal activity should be reported to your local Garda station.
Suspected illegal online material, sexual exploitation or sexual blackmail can also be reported confidentially and where appropriate anonymously, through Hotline.ie latter who has reported a sharp increase in sexual material created by children themselves, demonstrating why regular, non-judgmental conversations about images, privacy and online pressure are essential.
The most important message for every child is: No online threat is too serious to tell a trusted adult about. Images can be reported, accounts can be blocked and help is available. They do not have to obey the person threatening them.
Please share this warning with other Irish parents, schools, clubs and youth organisations. Awareness and early intervention could protect a child from serious harm.
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