Thurles Information

Government Approves Publication Of Criminal Law & Civil Law Bill 2025.

Government approves publication of Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025.

The Government has approved the publication of the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, a wide-ranging package of reforms designed to address urgent pressures across the justice system and deliver key Programme for Government commitments.

The Bill will, among other measures, criminalise “sex for rent” arrangements; strengthen protections for victims in sexual offence trials; support responses to prison overcrowding and violence, and modernise aspects of forensic and court procedures.

Key measures in the Bill

Criminalise the exploitative practice commonly known as “sex for rent”.
Reform the disclosure of counselling records in sexual offence trials.
Expand the use of community service as an alternative to short custodial sentences.
Remove the legal barrier to the regulated use of incapacitant spray by prison officers.
Enable more advanced DNA analysis in missing and unknown persons cases.
Facilitate bail and suspended sentence bonds being taken in custody settings.
Put regulated outdoor seating for licensed premises on a permanent statutory footing.
Allow the Chief Justice to delegate certain non-judicial functions to other judges.
Tackling exploitation: new “sex for rent” offences.

The Bill introduces two specific criminal offences:

Offering accommodation in exchange for sexual activity.
Advertising accommodation in exchange for sexual activity.

These provisions cover both landlord–tenant arrangements and rent-a-room situations. The offences focus on the offer or advertisement itself; there is no requirement to prove that sexual activity occurred.
The proposed penalty is a Class A fine of up to €5,000.

Protecting victims: counselling records in sexual offence trials
The Bill will amend the law on the disclosure of counselling records in sexual offence trials by requiring a disclosure hearing in all cases, ensuring judicial oversight and that the privacy rights of victims and survivors are fully considered.

Responding to prison overcrowding and violence:
Community service in lieu of custody.

To support non-custodial sentencing, the Bill will:

Require courts to consider a community service order (CSO) as an alternative to prison sentences of up to 24 months (currently 12 months)
Require courts to give reasons where a CSO is not imposed
Increase the maximum community service hours from 240 to 480
Incapacitant spray for prison officers

The Bill will also remove the legal barrier to the use of incapacitant spray by prison officers, with use to be regulated under provisions made by the Minister through the Prison Rules. The Department has indicated these provisions are intended to be introduced by Committee Stage amendments.

Improving missing persons investigations: advanced DNA analysis.
The Bill amends the Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Act 2014 by inserting a new definition of “DNA profile” for missing and unknown persons cases. It also provides for more than one DNA profile to be generated from a relevant sample, to support more powerful identification techniques.

Modernising court processes, bail and suspended sentence bonds.

To better support remote/video-link participation in bail and sentencing hearings for people in custody, the Bill will:

Amend the Criminal Procedure Act 1967 to allow bail bonds to be entered before members of An Garda Síochána (where the person is in Garda custody)
Amend the Criminal Justice Act 2006 to allow suspended sentence bonds to be entered before prison governors (where the person is in custody)

These changes are intended to reduce the need for escorts to and from court and deliver time and cost efficiencies.

Civil law measures: outdoor seating for licensed premises:
The Bill gives permanent effect to legal provisions for a regulated outdoor seating regime for licensed premises.

Judiciary: delegation of non-judicial functions:
The Bill includes provisions to allow the Chief Justice to delegate certain non-judicial functions to other members of the judiciary.

Provisions not proceeding:
Measures from the General Scheme relating to the Gambling Regulation Act 2024 are no longer proposed for inclusion in this Bill, as they have been provided for separately, under the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2025.

A Song For A Sunday.

Remember Me.

Lyrics: American songwriter, author and guitarist Mark Elliott and late American country music songwriter Tim Johnson (1960–2012).
Vocals: American country and bluegrass duo, husband-and-wife singer/songwriters Joey and Rory Feek.

This point of the song, sung hereunder, is simple: enjoy the presents, the lights and traditions, but don’t forget what Christmas is about celebrating Jesus Christ, latter born in humility in Bethlehem; laid in a manger; first welcomed by ordinary shepherds and later sought out by the Magi.
“Remember me” is a reminder that the child of Christmas calls us to live with mercy and generosity, especially toward those with the least, not just to have a nicer-looking holiday.

Remember Me.

Remember Me

When you’re opening those presents,
Underneath the Christmas tree,
Remember me,
When you’re setting out those cookies
For Santa Claus to eat,
Remember me.
I was born in a manger,
On a cold December night,
With shepherds and three wise men,
Underneath the stars so bright,
The son of a lowly carpenter,
From down in Galilee,
Remember me.
When you’re hangin’ up those Christmas lights,
For the neighborhood to see,
Remember me.
When you’re gathered ’round the table,
With all your family,
Remember me.
Cause I walked from town to town without,
A place to lay my head,
I even fed 5,000 with just a loaf of bread,
And I helped the lame to walk again,
I made the blind men see,
Remember me.
Remember me.
I was only in my thirties,
When they led me up that hill,
With tears in my eyes I cried,
But did my Father’s will,
And there upon a cross of wood,
I died to set you free,
Remember me.
When you’re opening those presents,
Underneath your Christmas tree,
Remember me.

END.

Death Of Mary Fennelly, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday Saturday 20th December 2025 of Mrs Mary Fennelly (née Ryan), Boulick, Gortnahoe, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by her parents, her husband Martin, brother Paddy and sister-in-law Kitty; Mrs Fennelly passed away peacefully while in the care of staff at Fennor Hill Care Facility, Urlingford Co. Kilkenny.

Her passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her sorrowing family; loving sons Michael, Pat, Martin, J.J., Paschal, Fintan, Fr. Seán and Dermot, her daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sister Kathleen (Roberts) extended relatives, neighbours and many friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mrs Fennelly will repose at Doyle’s Funeral Home, Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny (Eircode E41 XO38), on Monday afternoon, December 22nd, from 5:00pm until 7:30pm, before being received into the Church of the Sacred Heart, Gortnahoe, Thurles, same evening.
Requiem Mass for Mrs Fennelly will be offered on Tuesday, December 23rd, at 12:00 noon followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in Boulick Graveyard, Gortnahoe, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

For those persons who would wish to attend Requiem Mass for Mrs Fennelly, but for reasons cannot, same can be viewed streamed live online, at a link to follow later.

The extended Fennelly and Ryan 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.

Note Please: House strictly private.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.

In Your Arms.

Lyrics: Songwriter and composer Franklin Souza Dornelas.
Vocals: Country music singer and musician Jude Dawson.

In Your Arms.

In Your Arms.

I found you in the quiet of the night.
Your voice was a beacon, a gentle light.
Every glance sets a fire in my soul,
Time stands still when you make me whole.

In your arms I find my home,
Safe and warm, I’m never alone.
If the world turns cold, with you it’s spring,
You’re my love, my everything.

‘Cause only you can make me feel,
That love is endless, strong, and real,
And when I’m lying in your arms,
I am complete, safe from all harm.

In your arms I find my home,
Safe and warm, I’m never alone.
If the world turns cold, with you it’s spring,
You’re my love, my everything.

‘Cause only you can make me feel,
That love is endless, strong, and real,
And when I’m lying in your arms,
I am complete, safe from all harm.

END

Tipperary Co. Co. Invite Public Consultation On Harmonised Parking Bye-Laws.

Tipperary County Council to invite public consultation on Harmonised Parking Bye-Laws 2026.

Tipperary County Council will commence a public consultation on January 12th 2026 regarding the proposed “Harmonised Parking Bye-Laws 2026”.
These bye-laws aim to deliver a fair, consistent and modern county-wide parking system, moving away from the nine separate systems, which currently exist in each of our towns where there is a charge for parking.

The key proposed changes are as follows:

Three-tier charging structure for the nine towns reflecting the diverse character of each town.
Tier 1: Clonmel.
Tier 2: Thurles, Nenagh.
Tier 3: Roscrea, Templemore, Tipperary Town, Cashel, Cahir, Carrick-on-Suir.

Formal 20-minute free parking period in short and medium-stay parking zones; (perfect for that person in flat shoes, who can complete a full town-centre errand, involving running at Olympic pace; to post a letter; collect a prescription; grab a loaf; que at a Supermarket check-out; then find the one shop you actually needed is closed, and be back at the car before the engine properly cools).
Standard parking location maps for all pay parking areas across all Tipperary towns.
Parking zones at different rates will still be decided by the Elected Members at District level, if they can avoid their full time teaching posts and other occupations, in order to attend.

The new county-wide bye-laws seek to:

Support our town centres by encouraging parking turnover and the associated footfall.
Provide equity county-wide with equal charges for similar parking services for the towns in each of the 3 tiers.
Introduce a formal 20-minute free parking period in short and medium-stay town centre zones.
Ensure that off-street car parking will be cheaper than on-street parking.
Provide clarity and consistency with standardised permit categories and charging times county-wide.
Provide clear and consistent mapping of the parking system across all nine towns for public display.

The proposed bye-laws will replace multiple existing regulations and bye-laws and, subject to adoption, are expected to come into effect on September 1st 2026.

In parallel to the new bye-laws a scheme is proposed to return a percentage of parking income to each of the nine towns where that income is generated: same to support and fund town centre projects, initiatives and developments, e.g. Straighten sign posts and replace bollards removed by high sided vehicles the week before, or correct errors previously designed by money wasting town engineers. On wonders where such funds generated were allocated previously.
However, focusing on Thurles; many will note a small mathematical complication: you can’t generate much parking income in a town centre where car parks remain unavailable and areas, like our town centre, where there are little to no spaces left to generate it from. It’s a bit like running a swimming pool fundraiser, after the water has been removed.

And while Thurles town centre may be short on parking, retail consumers point out it doesn’t seem short on enforcement, with two traffic wardens still in place, giving the impression that Thurles has perfected a rare civic innovation: a town centre where parking is scarce, but getting a ticket remains reliably available.

Tipperary County Council will have these draft Bye Laws available for inspection from January 12th 2026, for a period of one month, and will be inviting comments and submissions on these bye-law proposals for a further two weeks.

Members of the public are encouraged to participate, safe in the knowledge that their views, as is usual, will be carefully received, respectfully acknowledged, and then placed in the traditional local authority filing system marked as “Please Ignore”.