Thurles Information

Statement On Conclusion Of DNA Testing On Human Remains Recovered By ICLVR.

Statement On conclusion Of DNA Testing On Human Remains Recovered By ICLVR.

The Minister for Justice, Mr Jim O’Callaghan TD, has expressed his disappointment today following confirmation that the human remains recovered recently by the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains in Co. Monaghan are not those of Mr Joe Lynskey.

Minister O’Callaghan said: “When the Commission announced that unidentified remains had been found following an exhumation late last year, we all hoped that they would be identified as those of Joe Lynskey. I held hope that the Lynskey family would finally be able to lay him to rest. I am saddened that this is not the case.
Today, my thoughts again are with the Lynskey family who have had to endure this particular cruelty for over 50 years.
I would also acknowledge that this experience has been distressing for the family whose grave was opened in order to carry out the exhumation and I am thankful for their understanding in such difficult circumstances.
I want also to commend the dedicated and ceaseless humanitarian work of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains. I assure them and the families of the Disappeared of my and the Government’s support for their ongoing work.
The Commission will continue its vital work and I appeal again, today, to anyone with any information that could help the families of Columba McVeigh, Joe Lynskey, Robert Nairac and Seamus Maguire to share this information with the Commission now.

The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains (ICLVR) has also issued the following statement: “In an effort to locate the remains of Joe Lynskey, one of the Disappeared who went missing in the summer of 1972, human remains were exhumed from a grave in Annyalla Cemetery, Co Monaghan on 26 November 2024.
The results of the DNA examination of the remains have now eliminated them as being those of the family to whom the grave belongs and now also eliminated them as being those of Joe Lynskey or any of the Disappeared.
All the interested parties including the Lynskey family have been informed.
We know that this news is deeply disappointing for the Lynskey family and the thoughts of everyone in the Commission are with them at this most difficult time.
We are also conscious that this was a distressing experience for the family whose grave was opened to facilitate the exhumation.
We are grateful for their co-operation and support at all stages of the process.
The Commission will continue to do everything in its power to locate and recover the remains of all of the outstanding Disappeared cases.
We would again appeal to anyone with information relating to Joe Lynskey, Columba McVeigh, Robert Nairac or Seamus Maguire to bring it to the ICLVR where it will be treated in the strictest confidence”.

The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains (ICLVR), led by Commissioners Mr. Tim Dalton and Mrs Rosalie Flanagan, was established by an Agreement between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom and signed on 27th April 1999 by legislation enacted in both jurisdictions. The ICLVR is responsible for facilitating the location of the remains of victims of paramilitary violence who were murdered and secretly buried arising from the conflict in Northern Ireland.
Further information is available at www.iclvr.ie
The ICLVR needs further information to be able to progress its investigations into the remaining disappeared victims – Columba McVeigh, Joe Lynskey, Robert Nairac and Seamus Maguire.

Anyone with information on the four outstanding Disappeared cases —Joe Lynskey, Columba McVeigh, Robert Nairac and Seamus Maguire; should contact the ICLVR Tel: +353 1 602 8655 or Mr Dennis Godfrey (ICLVR), Tel: +44 7771 642348.

Bayer To Pay Billions In Damages Following Weed Killer Cancer Case.

A jury in Georgia, South Carolina, USA, has ordered the Monsanto parent company Bayer to pay nearly $2.1 billion in damages to a man who maintains the company’s Roundup weed killer caused his cancer, according to his attorneys.

This verdict, delivered on Friday last, marks the latest in a long-running series of court battles that Monsanto has faced over its Roundup herbicide. The agrochemical giant says it will appeal the verdict, in an efforts to overturn the court’s decision.

In a statement, law firms Arnold & Itkin LLP and Kline & Specter PC said that the penalties awarded to the plaintiff will include $65 million in compensatory damages and $2 billion in punitive damages. This marks one of the largest legal settlements reached in a Roundup weed killer related case to date.

The plaintiff named as Mr John Barnes filed his lawsuit against Monsanto in 2021, seeking damages which related to his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The lead trial lawyer, Arnold & Itkin attorney Kyle Findley, stated that the verdict will help to place his client in a better disposition in order to obtain necessary treatment needed going forward.

The verdict on the case is seen as an important moment of truth, following the refusal by Monsanto to accept responsibility for poisoning people with their product, same regarded as highly toxic.

Glyphosate is a herbicide used to kill certain plants and grasses and is the declared active ingredient in most versions of Roundup. The biggest users of glyphosate are growers of crops that have been genetically engineered to be resistant to the herbicide. This allows the plant to survive while killing nearby weeds. The crops with the highest use of glyphosate are modified corn, cotton, and soybeans.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the U.S. maintain that glyphosate is not likely to cause cancer in humans. But there is concern about the other ingredients in Roundup, as they may be more toxic than glyphosate. These other chemicals are not the active ingredients in Roundup, so they are rarely the focus of regulatory health risk assessments.
One study found that Roundup was among the most toxic of the herbicides and insecticides tested.

A Song For A Sunday.

A Letter To My Mama.

We write, to warn all our readers in advance, that Sunday next, March 30th 2025, is Mothers Day.

Lyrics and Vocals: American singer, songwriter and musician Vince Gill (Vincent Grant Gill).

A Letter To My Mama.

Oh, I need to write a letter,
Put it down in black and white,
No a phone call just won’t cut it,
Not the way I feel tonight.
A letter to my mama,
From the bottom of my heart,
“I’m sorry”, is a real good place to start.
I’m sorry I was selfish,
Just chalk it up to youth.
I got too old to need you,
That’s just running from the truth.
I’m sorry things didn’t work out,
For you and my old man.
Sometimes life don’t turn out like you plan.
Looking back I wonder how,
You ever pulled us through,
I can’t imagine walking in your shoes.
If I could stop this pen from shaking,
I’d write these words down too,
There’s no one in this world I love like you.
Oh, I’ve written down the memories,
Of these sixty-some-odd years,
Trying hard to just say “Thank you”,
As I wipe away the tears.
I hear my grandson calling,
So I guess I’d better go.
I can never pay you back the love I owe.
Oh, I finished up the letter,
Put it down in black and white,
No, a phone call wouldn’t cut it,
Not the way I feel tonight.
A letter to my mama,
From the bottom of my heart,
The very bottom of my heart.

END

Death Of Larry Long, Loughmore, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, on Friday 21st March 2025, of Mr Larry Long, Lisheenataggart, Loughmore, Templemore, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his parents Andrew and Anastasia, his sister Josie and baby brother MichaelLarry Long passed away peacefully, while in the care of staff at Tipperary University Hospital, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; loving wife Bridie (Née O’Dwyer), daughter Annette (Russell), sons Andrew and Tommy, son-in-law Kieran, daughters-in-law Olivia and Alice, grandchildren Kate, Tom, Kevin, Lewis, Chris, Emmet, Harry, Michael and Liam, sisters Mary (Quinlan), Kathleen (Bailey) and Ann (Raleigh), nephew, nieces, extended relatives, kind neighbours, and many good friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Long will be received into the Church of the Nativity of Our Lady Loughmore, on Wednesday March 26th, at 11:30am to repose for Requiem Mass followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in the adjoining graveyard.

For those persons who wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mr Long, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE

The extended Long family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Second Thurles ‘Section 5’ Exemption Not Intended To House IPAS Applicants.

We learn today that a second ‘Section 5’ Thurles Planning Exemption, announced by elected representatives, for an address on Friar Street, Thurles, was in fact never intended for use as housing for International Protection Applicants.

Proprietors of this identified Friar Street property have stated that their building will not be used as an IPAS centre and same was never intended to be used as such, in the first place.

The property on Friar Street in the town is currently home to a number of Ukrainians and the owner insists that it was never intended be used for International Protection Applicants.

Meanwhile, it has already been confirmed that Kilbrin Homes Ltd, has now decided not to progress with their plans for an IPAS Centre, scheduled for Mitchel Street in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
This latter decision results in a scheduled public meeting, which was set to be held on Thursday, March 27th next, now will no longer take place, as was arranged for the Anner Hotel in the town.

Immigration issues, which suddenly came to the fore this week in Thurles, does not mean that Thurles people, for the most part, are either racist or against allowing refugees to come into our midst, seeking better opportunities.
The majority of residents believe that everyone should have the chance to improve their lives. However, the current systems are being totally exploited and the present government, supported by all Tipperary TDs; together with Tipperary County council officials appear to grant ‘Section 5’ planning exemption, in secret, to property owners/developers, in areas that are totally unacceptable. In the case of Thurles, not even one job has been created in the past 30 years, despite the fact that two elected TDs, up until the last election, were resident in the immediate area, both achieving nothing for either Thurles town or county. Where are these people to find job opportunities in Thurles?

Ireland continues to grow wealthier and is fast becoming one of the richest countries in the world, but the quality of life for many Irish people is declining. Our towns, and especially our cities, are becoming less safe – not solely because of immigration, but due to multiple factors, including drugs and a failing justice system.

Communities across Ireland are worried, and their concerns are being consistently ignored. When people’s feelings are suppressed, this leads to frustration, driving same toward more extreme beliefs. This breeds distrust in the government thus fuelling racism and extremism.

The immigration issue in Ireland is a complex and often controversial topic, touching on various social, economic, and political aspects. While Ireland has a long history of welcoming refugees and migrants; in recent years there have seen growing concerns and debates around immigration policies.

With regards Thurles and Co. Tipperary; it should be highlighted that while Tipperary County Council officials grant ‘Section 5’ Planning Exemption without any thought as to the area affected, this same Council have dragged a single elderly gentleman (Mr Sean Meehan), through the Irish Court system, demanding that he dismantle an insulated caravan on wheels, by April 4th next, which he positioned on his own land, near New Inn, Cahir, Co. Tipperary. Failure to obey this order, will see Mr Meehan spend his 66th birthday in an Irish prison, while his humble abode will be torn down, leaving him homeless when released.
This is despite planning rules for cabins and modular homes in back gardens all set to be relaxed in an effort to support a housing crisis in Ireland.

This is a County Council that lacks humanity; is according to elected representatives, a somewhat dictatorial regime that continuously wastes taxpayers money and fails to consult with local residents, their elected Councillors, TDs, Gardaí and other pertinent stakeholders.