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Over €17m diverted from criminals to the Irish exchequer.
The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target a person’s assets, wherever situated, which derive, or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Since its inception, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting organised crime in this jurisdiction and disrupting the activities of criminal gangs by depriving them of ill-gotten assets.
The Bureau has staff drawn from An Garda Síochána, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners (including Customs), the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Justice.
The latest Annual Report from the Bureau has now been published for 2024, showing €17.052 million was returned to the Irish Exchequer, due to their activities.
The Bureau sold twenty forfeited properties by 2024; the highest number sold in any one year. One of these properties was sold for €931,000, one of the highest sales prices ever achieved for any one asset.
An updated Proceeds of Crime Bill is now understood to be making its way through the Oireachtas currently and if implemented same is expected to strengthen the State’s ability to further identify, freeze, and confiscate assets linked to serious and organised crime. Once passed into law, the Criminal Assets Bureau should have stronger investigative powers and will be able to dispose of assets much more quickly than is currently the case.
Some of the Bureau’s other key achievements of the year included:
- 46 search operations conducted, consisting of 227 individual searches in 13 counties.
- 21 new cases commenced under the Proceeds of Crime Act during 2024.
- Submission of 30 new Proceeds of Crime files to the Criminal Asset Section of the Chief State Solicitor’s Office for progression through the courts.
- The Bureau held its second publicly advertised online auction which received global interest, realising in excess of €216k.
Yet one must be forgiven for asking, is this simply yet another tax generated on the hard pressed, ordinary Irish household?
Let us think for a moment:-
(1) Crimes in question are rightly identified by Criminal Assets Bureau.
(2) Proceeds amounting to €17.052 million are now returned to the Irish Exchequer.
Question: What fraction of this significant sum will actually be channelled back into local rural communities, where the crime identified first originated?
Note: Every time a drug seizure is made, criminals take to rural Ireland to steal/plunder, often by force, valuables, goods etc, from the residents in towns and villages, to the benefit of the Irish Exchequer.
“Surely this amounts to a tax in another name”.
We wait to see how much of this €17.052 million, will be returned to Irish local communities.
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It was with sadness that we learned of the death, today Thursday 6th November 2025, of Mr John Power Lisduff, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and formerly Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny.
Pre-deceased by his wife Mary (née Long) and his parents John and Maggie; Mr Power passed away peacefully, while in the care of staff at Archersrath Nursing Home, Archersrath, Co. Kilkenny.
His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving sons Seàn and Kevin, his adored grandchildren Ritchie, Joseph and Matthew, daughter-in-law Louise, Ritchie’s partner Aisling, sister Kathleen (Hennessy), brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and a wide circle of friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements.
The earthly remains of Mr Power will repose at Doyle’s funeral home Urlingford (Eircode E41 X038) on Friday afternoon, November 7th, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm same evening.
His remains will be received into the Church of the Sacred Heart, Gortnahoe, Thurles, on Saturday morning, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:30am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards in Aglish Cemetery, Graigaheesha, Gortnahoe, Co. Tipperary.
The extended Power, Long and Hennessy families wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
It was with sadness that we learned of the death, on Tuesday 4th November 2025, of Mr Michael Flanagan, “St. Mary’s”, Galbertstown, Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Pre-deceased by his wife Mary, his parents John and Mary-Ellen, infant daughter Miriam, sister Madge (Margaret) and infant sister Mary, and his beloved cousin Paddy Doran; Mr Flanagan, sadly, passed away suddenly at his place of ordinary residence.
His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving wife Kathleen (née Maher), son John, daughters Aileen (O’Donnell, Clerihan), Michelle, Kathrine (Maher, Dunkerrin) and Mary-Rose, their partners Jane, Dermot, Séamus and Tommy, grandchildren Eva, Conal, Moya, Ruairí, James and Ellie, brothers Tom, Bill and John, sister Mary (Hunt), sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nephews, nieces, extended family, neighbours and many friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral Arrangements.
The earthly remains of Mr Flanagan will repose at Hugh Ryan’s Funeral Home, Slievenamon Road, Thurles (Eircode E41 CP59) on Friday afternoon November 7th from 5:00pm until 7:00pm same evening.
His funeral cortège will be received into the former Cistercian Monastery Abbey, at Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, (Eircode E41 PH01) on Saturday morning November 8th at 11:00am, to further repose for Requiem Mass at 11:30am, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in the adjoining graveyard.
For those persons who would wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mr Flanagan, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.
The extended Flanagan family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
The Flanagan family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, carers and healthcare professionals who looked after Mr Flanagan over the years.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
All-Ireland winners Tipperary lead the way with seven selections, while Cork secure four, Kilkenny two, and Galway and Dublin one each in the elite XV of the year.
The 2025 Hurling All-Stars have been announced, and reigning All-Ireland champions Tipperary lead the way with seven selections, following their Liam MacCarthy Cup success.
Tipperary’s Outstanding Representation.
Tipperary’s haul comprises: Rhys Shelly (Goalkeeper); Robert Doyle (Defence); Eoghan Connolly (Defence); Ronan Maher (Centre-half-back; Captain); Jake Morris (Forward); Andrew Ormond (Forward)
and John McGrath (Forward).
Shelly was a unanimous choice in goal after a season of standout performances.
Other Counties Recognised
Cork have four players selected: Seán O’Donoghue, Ciarán Joyce, Darragh Fitzgibbon and Brian Hayes.
Kilkenny secure two places: Huw Lawlor (his third All-Star) and Martin Keoghan.
Galway’s Cathal Mannion makes the midfield.
Dublin’s Cian O’Sullivan is selected in the half-forward line, the county’s first All-Star in this code since 2013.
Looking Ahead to Individual Honours
Three players; Jake Morris, John McGrath (both Tipperary) and Brian Hayes (Cork), are certainly in contention for the “Hurler of the Year“.
For the “Young Hurler of the Year“, contenders include Robert Doyle (Tipperary), Darragh McCarthy (Tipperary) and possibly Adam English (Limerick).
The awards ceremony takes place at the RDS in Dublin on Friday evening next and will also be streamed live.
Thurles.Info congratulates all the recipients on their exceptional contributions throughout the 2025 season and look forward to the gala evening where further individual honours will be presented live on the night.
Let’s start with the need and wisdom of shopping around to reduce the cost of living.
Shoppers in Thurles are noticing striking price differences between local supermarket products. A local check in Thurles this week found that an 18-can slab of 7UP Zero was priced at €8.99 in Aldi: – €9.00 in Dunnes Stores: – €11.00 in Tesco: – €11.99 in Lidl: and €14.00 in SuperValu, demonstrating a spread that boldly underscores the point I am about to make and provides proof (as if proof was needed) that it pays to shop around and forget about loyalty.
Locked-In Loyalty – Why Staying with the same Provider is a costly mistake.
Households today are under pressure from multiple fronts, stagnant wages, rising rents, an inflationary drift in everyday goods purchased. In that context, taking time to compare providers for utilities, insurance, broadband or mobile and food is no longer a luxury; it’s a survival tactic. Because when you’re already squeezed, paying above-market rates for services and products you cannot do without, feels less like choice and more like injustice.
The smart consumer doesn’t just accept the default: they should demand value, they should compare, they should switch and not out of triviality, but out of necessity.
Moreover, competition only works if consumers engage: if everyone stays loyal out of inertia, then suppliers have no incentive to drive down costs or improve service. So shopping around is not merely savvy, it’s a civic duty in a market where you’re obliged to pay, but you still deserve fairness.
The Elephants In The Room:
Now let’s address the elephants in the room: the cost of essential services in Ireland, particularly electricity and internet, is woefully high and increasingly indefensible.
The internet provider Vodafone is down in Thurles yet again this morning, leaving people working from home without a service.
Regardless they will still send the same monthly bill at the end of this month and expect people to pay. Over the past 12 month the Vodafone service failed over 34 times; on one occasion last August for a period of 3 consecutive days. It is easier to ride a camel through the eye of a needle, than to complain to the commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). Why they still continue to exist, few people understand.
When it comes to internet access, Irish consumers got 39% less value for their internet compared to UK users, and is placed only 22nd among European countries.
Put simply: one of your most basic bills is much higher here than most of our European neighbours; this isn’t an incidental detail; it’s a structural cost burden.
Household electricity prices in Ireland were measured at €0.3736 per kWh in the first half of 2024, the highest in the EU for Irish households.
In effect, Irish households are paying €350-plus annually, more for electricity than is the EU average.
What is especially galling is that when something is labelled “essential” it really ought to be priced in a way that doesn’t punish people just for being connected or powered. The fact that despite high VAT, network/levy costs, infrastructure investment and other “legitimate” components, the final bills remain so elevated it suggests a failure somewhere, either in regulation, competition, or both.
In short: shopping-around is vital; but it also shouldn’t be the only defensive mechanism. The system should not rely solely on consumers being alert and mobile. When essential services carry a premium burden, it erodes disposable income, squeezes savings, and perpetuates inequality.
Where to Find the Cheapest Bills in Ireland.
How to shop smart and cut your household costs.
Irish households continue to face some of the highest utility costs in Europe. Here’s how and where to compare providers for cheaper electricity, broadband, insurance, and more.
The Invisible Tax : How Irish Households Fund High Utility Costs
Rising Costs, Shrinking Choices: With electricity, broadband and insurance prices ranked among the highest in Europe, Irish households are paying a heavy premium for essentials. The truth is that loyalty rarely pays, and staying with the same provider year after year can cost you hundreds of euros more than is necessary.
Fortunately, there are independent tools that make comparing and switching simple. Spending just an hour reviewing your main bills once a year can make a real difference to your budget.
Shop Around or Pay the Price: How to Fight Back Against Sky-High Utility Costs.
Electricity & Gas:
Bonkers.ie : – the most comprehensive comparison site for Irish consumers. It lists every licensed energy supplier, breaks down standing charges and tariffs, and estimates your annual savings.
Switcher.ie : – a clear, easy-to-use alternative, often with cashback offers for new customers.
CRU.ie : – the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. It doesn’t compare prices, but it regulates the market and ensures the above sites remain impartial – supposedly.
Tip: Watch out for 12-month “introductory rates”. Once they expire, prices jump sharply, so set a reminder to review before renewal.
Insurance
Chill.ie : – compare car, home and travel insurance in one place.
CompareInsuranceIreland.ie : — independent comparisons that include smaller providers.
Note: Sometimes it pays to check insurers directly; Aviva, Allianz, AXA, or 123.ie can offer better rates to new customers than through a website or program that collects related items of content and displays them or links to them, (known as aggregators).
Tip: Never accept automatic renewals. The biggest insurance savings go to switchers, not loyal customers.
Banking & Mortgages.
CCPC Money Tools : – the official comparison hub from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. It covers current accounts, credit cards, personal loans, and mortgage rates.
Tip: If you took out a mortgage more than three years ago, check your rate. Switching lenders can save thousands over the lifetime of your loan.
Final Word – Financial Self-defence and Resistance.
Ireland’s high cost of living is not likely to drop overnight, but smart shopping can make it more manageable. Reviewing your main bills; for energy, broadband, and insurance, once a year is a simple act of financial self-defence.
In a system where essential services cost more than they should, comparison isn’t just wise; it’s a quiet form of resistance.
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