Thurles Information

Male Pedestrian Dead – Struck By Vehicle In Co. Tipperary.

A pedestrian, understood to be a man aged in his 40s, has sadly lost his life after being struck by a car near the village of Toomevara in Co. Tipperary.

The collision happened shortly after 10:00pm on the R499 between Toomevara and Ballinamona Cross.

The pedestrian, named locally as Mr Kieran Delaney, Grenanstown, Ballymackey, Toomevara, Co. Tipperary, was pronounced dead at the scene and his body has since been removed to University Hospital Limerick, where a post-mortem will take place.

The driver of the vehicle, a young man aged in his 20s, was also taken to University Hospital Limerick as a precaution.

The road remained closed last night to allow for a forensic examination of the accident scene to be carried out and local diversions remain in place.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Nenagh Garda station Tel: 067-50450, the Garda Confidential Line on Tel: 1800 666 111 or indeed any Garda station.

Locum At South Tipperary Hospital, Had Been Struck Off UK Medical Register.

A 58 year old Physician, named as Dr Ragheb Nouman, who was employed previously as a locum in seven Irish hospitals, (including South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary), since his arrival in Ireland in 2018; had failed to disclose to the Irish Medical Council (IMC) that he had been struck off the UK Medical Register, some two years earlier, for substandard clinical performance and making racist remarks against Indian colleagues.

Dr Nouman, a father of three, appeared before a ‘Fitness to Practise’ inquiry yesterday, facing accusations of professional misconduct and poor professional performance, while informing the IMC that he was working in Romania, when in truth he was, in fact, employed in the United Kingdom, before having his name removed from the UK medical register in January of 2016.

Dr Nouman, who qualified as a doctor in Romania in 1991, is accused of providing information which he knew to be untrue on his application form, latter required in order to register as a doctor here in the Irish Republic, in April of 2018; erasing all of his previous work history which related to the UK, from this initial application.

Syrian born Dr Nouman, who worked as a locum senior house officer for short periods in seven Irish hospitals, between September 2018 and April 2019, was struck off the medical register in the UK, following an inquiry which found his clinical work unacceptable and that he had made comments of a racist nature.

The hearing was adjourned until next week.

Ministers McEntee & Coveney Welcome 4th Report Of Independent Reporting Commission.

The Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee TD, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Simon Coveney TD, welcomed the publication today of the fourth report of the Independent Reporting Commission (IRC).

The Fourth Report sets out the Commission’s further assessment of progress to date on the implementation of the provisions of the 2015 Fresh Start Agreement that are designed to tackle paramilitary activity and associated criminality, and bringing an end to paramilitarism in Northern Ireland.

The Commission reports that paramilitary activity remains a stark reality of life in Northern Ireland and describes it as a clear and present danger.

The Reports of the Commission provide an invaluable insight into the work that is being done to tackle paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland and they set out a pathway to achieving progress, both through the policing and criminal justice response and a response to the wider socio-economic factors that exist in the communities where paramilitaries continue to operate.

This year the Commission highlights that as a result of the major focus that has been brought to bear on tackling paramilitarism following the Fresh Start Agreement, there are now a whole range of actions and initiatives in place that simply did not exist before and that these are now beginning to have real effect on the ground. There is of course still work to be done and the IRC sets out some further recommendations, building on their previous reports.

Speaking on the Report’s publication, Minister McEntee said,

“This fourth report of the Independent Reporting Commission sets out the stark reality that paramilitary activity remains a clear and present danger in Northern Ireland.
These groups carry out horrendous crimes such as paramilitary style shootings, attacks on police officers and attacks in their own communities. As well as this appalling physical violence, the Commission focuses on coercive control in this Report and the harm that it causes to the communities that are in the grip of this fearful reality.
Paramilitarism, and the associated criminality that we witness, is simply unacceptable and something that our communities should not have to endure. We need to ensure pressure is maintained to bring this activity to an end.
I welcome that the IRC reports that the range of actions and initiatives commenced on foot of Fresh Start are now beginning to have real effect on the ground. There is of course still work to be done and we will continue working with our UK and Northern Ireland counterparts, and the Independent Reporting Commission on tackling this ingrained problem.”

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Simon Coveney T.D. said,

“I welcome the fourth report of the Independent Reporting Commission.
The Commission continues to provide an invaluable and comprehensive overview of efforts to end continuing paramilitary activity.
The report makes clear that, while some progress has been made, many challenges remain. As the Commissioners recognise, the twin track approach – incorporating policing and justice measures and a wider approach that deals with systemic issues – is crucial. The Commissioners have highlighted the complex issues required in ending paramilitarism and I look forward to continuing to engage with them on this in the coming year.”

Ministers McEntee and Coveney expressed thanks to the Commissioners and officials for this Report and their work to date.

The full report is available to view HERE.

Update On TUS Campus Closures Due To Storm Barra

Please find hereunder an update on campus closures for TUS, as a result of Storm Barra.

Three of the six campuses at the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest (TUS) will remain closed tomorrow Wednesday, December 8th, 2021, following the advice of the Department of Further and Higher Education.

The LSAD, Clare Street Campus, Limerick; Moylish Campus, Limerick; and the Ennis Campus, Co. Clare were also closed today Tuesday, as a result of the Red Alert and Orange warning from Met Éireann.

Athlone, Clonmel and Thurles campuses will remain open again tomorrow Wednesday, but staff and students are asked not to travel from a red or orange area to attend these campuses.
This includes those who have assessments and exams. Contingencies will be put in place for those who cannot travel.

Staff and student are advised to follow the TUS social media channels and tus.ie for any updates or changes to this information.

Irish Food Safety Authority Welcome Ruling Against Arrabawn Co-Op Soc. Galway.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) last month, welcomed Judge Miriam Walsh’s ruling at Ballinasloe District Court in a case involving Arrabawn Co-Operative Society Limited, Kilconnell, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.

The Court ruling convicted and fined Arrabawn Co-Operative Society Limited €40,000 for breaches of food law. Arrabawn, (whose Head Office is based in Stafford Street, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary), agreed to pay the FSAI’s legal costs and a contribution to the investigation costs.

A former quality manager for the company was also convicted and fined €6,500.

The case was brought by the FSAI after receipt of a protected disclosure in August 2020, which resulted in an investigation led by the FSAI, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). The investigation found that documents had been illegally forged or altered and that these documents were then provided to business customers, third-party auditors, and to FSAI and DAFM authorised officers.

The breaches of food law of which Arrabawn Co-Operative Society Limited pleaded guilty include:

two charges of possession of forged or altered documents relating to testing of pasteurised milk.
possession of forged documents relating to testing and calibration records.
possession of forged documents relating to packaging integrity and water treatment.
failing to ensure that food handlers were adequately supervised and instructed and/or trained in food hygiene matters.
two charges of failing to comply with microbiological criteria for Enterobacteriaceae in pasteurised milk.
supplying inaccurate information concerning the folic acid content of milk.

Dr Pamela Byrne, CEO, FSAI stated:
“This court decision reinforces the legal obligation that all food businesses must abide by food law, which are in place to protect consumers’ health and interests. The law requires that food businesses must provide accurate documentation in relation to the food safety practices in their business and that their teams are properly trained and adequately supervised. Customers must have confidence in their food suppliers, certain in the knowledge that the food they are purchasing is safe and trustworthy.”

The role of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland is to protect consumers and raise compliance through partnership, science and food law enforcement. A statutory, independent and science-based body, the FSAI is dedicated to protecting public health and consumer interests in the area of food safety and hygiene.