Thurles Information

North-South Co-Operation Discussed On criminal Justice Matters.

Ministers Long and McEntee discuss North-South co-operation on matters of criminal justice.

Ministers Mrs Helen McEntee TD and Mrs Naomi Long MLA (Latter Minister of Justice in the Northern Ireland Executive) met yesterday to discuss cross border co-operation on criminal justice matters. Both Ministers reviewed the excellent ongoing co-operation across a wide range of criminal justice areas, including forensic science, public protection and victim support.

Minister McEntee said; “It is clear from yesterday’s meeting that there is a high degree of dynamic co-operation between our criminal justice systems. Excellent cross border cooperation is taking place in a range of criminal justice areas via the IGA. This work includes tackling hate crime, supporting victims, the management of high risk offenders, and early intervention strategies to combat youth offending. Under the IGA Work Programme (2021-23) this excellent work will continue to be enhanced.

Minister Long and I had a very productive discussion on the criminal justice challenges we face in both parts of the island. We must address these challenges and continue to co-operate in coming up with positive solutions to our shared problems”.

Minister Long said: “The cross-border co-operation on justice matters in both jurisdictions continues to produce very encouraging outcomes across a range of cross-border issues such as offender mental health, hate crime, youth justice, forensic science and support for victims. The IGA contributes greatly to ensuring we are doing everything we can to promote good practice in these areas. The absence of Ministers in Northern Ireland will not impede this important work, since cooperation will continue at official level and between our law enforcement partners”.

At the meeting both Ministers were also updated on the work of the cross border Joint Agency Task Force. They highlighted the continuing high level of co-operation and operational activity between the law enforcement agencies involved in tackling rural crime, drugs, financial crime, trafficking in human beings including children, excise fraud, and organised immigration crime.

Minister McEntee said; “I must commend the ongoing collaboration that underpins the Joint Agency Task Force. This work continues to highlight the extensive North-South co-operation that is undertaken between the police and other law enforcement agencies. By working together, the Task Force disrupts criminals that would seek to exploit the border and by doing so, enhances the safety of all communities on this island.

I welcome the success of the joint operations already undertaken. It is clear that the Joint Agency Task Force is producing results through cooperation and operational activity – whether it is joint days of action against mobile organised crime gangs, or working together to ensure customs seizures or to identify victims of human trafficking. I would like to express my appreciation to all those involved for their ongoing work”.

Minister Long said; “The ongoing work that continues to be carried out by the Joint Agency Task Force is of a significant value and the results being produced through closer cooperation and joint operational activity highlights the necessity of continued collaboration. The impact of this work in disrupting organised crime gangs and making our communities safer is very impressive and I am very grateful to all those involved both in providing the strategic direction but also the operational cooperation on which that success is based”.

Thurles.Info’s Guide To Locating Blocked Drains.

You can’t trust sewage or drainage pipes….They’re full of crap.

You would think that following the major flooding of our Thurles streets, last Sundays night; which saw 73.2mm to 125mm [3 to 5 ins] of sewage, permeated with surface water, flooding business premises and other dwellings, that those who raised our property taxes by 10% each year for the next two years, would have cleaned out our blocked drains.

No, five days later, total failure, I regret to report; as pictured by our drone this morning within the 50 kilometre [30mph] speed limit area, between O’Carroll’s (Top Oil) Service Station and Thurles Lidl Supermarket, on the N62, Slievenamon Road in the town.

**N62 Slievenamon Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, October 21st 2022.**
[Pic. G. Willoughby]

The N62 road is a national secondary road linking the M6 motorway east of Athlone, Co. Westmeath with the M7 motorway south of Roscrea and junction 6 of the M8 motorway close to the Horse and Jockey in Co. Tipperary.

The N62 is well travelled daily by local councillors; Municipal District senior officials and staff.
Because of heavy traffic, our “eye in the sky” was only able to hover over, and photograph just two of some 5 identified blocked drains, all within a 500 meter stretch of this secondary road.

Clue to locating blocked drains.
Since, hopefully, you are driving within the 50 kilometre [30mph] speed limit laid down in this area, recently prone to flooding, it is easy to locate the blocked drains.

First check for tall Grass; various sprouting Brassicas; (latter genera of plants relatives of the cabbage and mustard family), Dandelines, frost tolerant Common Groundsel and germinating Wheat seed.
Same growth can be located growing, like tiny islands, on tarmacadamed road surfaces, usually located close to kerbs; growing from what appear to be at first potholes.

Here also is yet another clue; Thurles potholes (which we are aware number 3,978, following a more recent count by the Central Statistics Office) are for some unknown reason, usually round, disk shaped, or hoop-shaped on our Tipperary roads. Blocked drains on the other hand, for some strange reason and for the most part are quadrate or rectangular in shape.

Same are used everywhere else in Ireland, except Thurles town, to drain away excess rain and ground water from impervious surfaces, such as paved or tarmacked streets, car parks, parking lots, footpaths, side-walks, and roofs of buildings.
But then Thurles is big into promoting biodiversity, as can be seen by the state of our polluted river Suir, our pavements and our local graveyards.

**Section of current Thurles pavement.**
[Pic. G. Willoughby]

Once identified, one wonders should Thurles Municipal District Council contact Irish Water; or the Office of Public Works; or maybe Iascach Intíre Éireann (Inland Fisheries Ireland)?
Maybe there is some other government department that Thurles Local Councillors can blame befort shifting responsibility.

Death Of John Corbett, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, today Thursday 20th October 2022, of Mr John Corbett, No. 2 Sue Ryder Homes, Holycross, Thurles Co. Tipperary and formerly of Coalbrook, Ballingarry (South Riding), Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Mr Corbett passed away peacefully while in the care of staff at Tipperary University Hospital, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.

His passing is most deeply regretted by his loving sister Margaret Ivers, brother-in-law Sean, his nephews John, Aidan and Kevin, nieces Helen, Margo and Siobhain, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Corbett will repose at Ronan’s Funeral Home, Ballingarry, Thurles, on on tomorrow evening, Friday, October 21st, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.
His body will be received into the Church of the Assumption, Ballingarry Upper, Thurles on Saturday morning, to further repose for Requien Mass Mass at 11:30am, followed by interment immediately afterwards in the Old Churchyard Cemetery, Ballingarry Lower, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

The extended Corbett family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time and have made arrangements for those wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Two Men Arrested Following Fethard Burglary.

A report made to Gardaí regarding a burglary, which occurred in the Fethard area of Co. Tipperary on October 10th last, has led to the arrest of two males.

As a consequence of this burglary, an all-terrain vehicle and other farming equipment had been stolen.

Clonmel Gardaí conducted an investigation which saw searches conducted at two locations in the wider South Tipperary area.
Same resulted in two males, both aged in their early 20’s, being arrested yesterday, October 19th, before being detained in Clonmel Garda Station.

The stolen all-terrain vehicle was also recovered at one of the locations searched.

Both arrested men have been charged to appear in court at a date in November next, in relation to this incident.

Intimations Of Mortality.

Intimations Of Mortality.

In a house in the suburbs,
Dark-haired Elizabeth contemplated,
Some silver tints in her hair.
Now nine and thirty years from the womb,
An almost avid apprehension,
Carried her wild and surging thoughts along.
“I’ll do something special for the forty,”
She enthused over her afternoon cuppa tea.
But I knew her more sombre thoughts
Of eternity.

END

Tom Ryan, “Iona”, Rahealty, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.