Thurles Information

Minister for Justice, Mr Simon Harris T.D., today opened the application process for suitably qualified candidates to be considered for appointment as Ireland’s representative on the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT).

The CPT was set up under the Council of Europe’s European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which came into force in 1989.

It builds on Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights which provides that “No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” The CPT provides a non-judicial preventative mechanism to protect those deprived of their liberty against torture and other forms of ill-treatment and in doing so complements the judicial work of the European Court of Human Rights.

The CPT carries out its task by periodic and ad hoc visits to places of detention, in order to assess how persons deprived of their liberty are treated. These places include prisons, juvenile detention centres, police stations, holding centres for immigration detainees, psychiatric hospitals etc.

During these visits, the Committee has the right of unimpeded access at any time of the day or night to any place where persons are detained. Members do not visit the State in respect of which they have been elected.

Members of the Committee are chosen from among persons of high moral character who are known for their competence in the field of human rights or having professional experience in the areas covered by the Convention. The CPT’s current membership is composed of independent and impartial experts drawn from a wide variety of backgrounds including lawyers, medical doctors and specialists in prison or police matters.

In inviting applications, Minister Harris said “I am pleased to invite expressions of interest from persons who wish to be considered for appointment to the CPT. This public invitation process attracted a number of high calibre candidates when it last took place in 2019 and I hope that we have the same level of engagement this time around. The work undertaken by the CPT is hugely important and this is a unique opportunity to serve one of the most important and effective European Committees. I would encourage any person interested in contributing to the Council of Europe’s work in this important area to consider applying for this position.”

Further details on eligibility criteria and how to apply are available on the Department’s website HERE.
Note: The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 24th February 2023 at 3:00pm.

A Nenagh fireman, whose locker was found to contain cocaine to the value of €78,000, has been found not guilty of possession of the aforementioned drug and related charges.

Mr Michael Morgan, a fireman, aged 43, with an address at Cluain Muillean, Nenagh, was acquitted by a jury at Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court today, on all three charges brought against and denied by him.

Mr Morgan had been accused of:
* One count of possession of cocaine,
* One count of possession of cocaine for sale and supply
* One count of possession of cocaine worth €13,000.
The charges laid against him, if found guilty, carried a mandatory minimum ten-year prison sentence.

His friend and co-accused, Mr John Walsh, a plasterer, aged 36, of Coille Bheithe, Nenagh, was found guilty by the same jury, of possession of cocaine; together with possession of cocaine for sale or supply. He was, however, acquitted of possessing cocaine worth €13,000 or more, contrary to ‘section 15(a) of the Misuse of Drugs Act.’

The Court heard that cocaine worth €78,000 was found, wrapped in individual plastic bags, in a lunchbox in Mr Morgan’s locker, at Nenagh Fire Station. Same was located during a routine inspection of staff lockers, back in January 2018.

Both the accused men were long time friends; with both holding licensed firearms for the purpose of hunting together.
Mr Walsh was unable to explain, satisfactorily, how a sample of his deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was located and identified, on a knot, on one of the individual plastic bags, which contained the cocaine, and could not remember ever being inside Nenagh Fire Station, unless brought there through his school.

The court also heard that at least 30 other individuals had similar access to the same locker room area.

Mr Walsh was today remanded on continuing bail, to appear before Nenagh Circuit Court, for sentencing this day week, Thursday, February 9th 2023.