Crime « Thurles Information

Christmas Advice From Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau.

See the tips above from the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau to help you stay secure when shopping online this Christmas.

National Awareness Campaign For Victims Of Domestic & Sexual Violence.

‘Always Here’ aims to increase awareness of pathways to safety and supports available.
Christmas and New Year is a tough time for some, when reports of domestic abuse can escalate.
Rollout of campaign being led by Cuan, the Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Agency.

The importance of ‘Always Here’; the awareness raising campaign on pathways to safety and supports available to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence is now being highlighted.

The campaign will run over Christmas and into January; a time when reports of domestic abuse in particular can increase, and it encourages victims to reach out for help and to report what has happened or is happening to them.

The central message is that when someone takes that brave step to seek help – from state agencies such as An Garda Síochána and the Court Service or from any of the vital organisations in the community and voluntary sectors that work with victims – that they will be listened to, they will be taken seriously and they will be given the support they need.

New figures from the Garda National Protective Services Bureau (GNPSB) show that there has been a 9% increase in the number of contacts to Gardai in relation to domestic violence this year. It is noted that both domestic violence and sexual violence are crimes that had traditionally been under-reported, and that significant work is now being done to increase reporting, including through awareness campaigns.

The “Always Here“ campaign website – alwayshere.ie – has information on national helplines for both men and women subjected to domestic and sexual violence. It has an interactive map where people can find local services in their county.

It also has information on supports for people who are under 18, and for older people and those with disabilities, as well as practical information on how to make a safety plan or what happens in a criminal trial.

“Always Here” is a key action under the Protection Pillar of the Third National Strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Now in its second year, this campaign is being managed by Cuan, the new DSGBV Agency, established in early 2024.

Dr. Stephanie O’Keeffe, CEO of Cuan said: “At this time of year, more than ever, it is important that we make sure that those who need help and support can find it. This is why we in Cuan are proud to be rolling out the Always Here campaign over the holiday season, as well as working with our partners on developing further campaign elements for rollout later in 2025.
Behind the “Always Here” message are the people delivering the services that we are signposting – the people answering the phone on the helplines, those who will accompany someone to a sexual assault treatment unit, members of An Garda Síochána latter responding to reports of domestic violence, and many more.
I would like to acknowledge the commitment and dedication of all those who will be supporting victims and survivors of DSGBV during these weeks and beyond. Thank you for always being here.”

The campaign is running across TV, national and local radio, in press, digital and social media, in cinemas and on a major out-of-home campaign on billboards and digital screens throughout Ireland. The campaign also focuses on targeting people in spaces such as in GP waiting rooms, pharmacies, in pubs, on buses or where they do their shopping.
It also focuses on people living in Ireland but using media in other languages.

Man Arrested Near Thurles, Charged Under Section 7, Criminal Justice Act.

A man, understood to be aged in his 30s, was arrested on Tuesday evening last (10th December), shortly before 9:00 pm, by Gardaí in the Tipperary Division. The man was arrested on suspicion of money laundering offences and in a follow search, they seized approximately €100,000 worth of cocaine and cannabis.

Gardaí stopped the vehicle on the M8, near Thurles town, Co. Tipperary and having searched the vehicle he was driving, located over €27,000 in cash. Electronic items were also seized, together with a small quantity of cocaine.

In a follow-up search of a residence in Tipperary town later that evening, Gardaí seized €70,000 of suspected cocaine and €30,000 of suspected cannabis, together with a significant amount of drug paraphernalia, which was also taken into evidence.

The man was arrested on suspicion of offences contrary to Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 and detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda station in Co. Tipperary.

The arrested man has since been charged and was due to appear before Nenagh District Court, North Tipperary this morning.

Teenager Facing Murder Of Tipperary Chef Now Released

A teenager facing charges in the Kansas City murder of Shaun Brady, the Tipperary restaurateur, latter who sadly was fatally shot outside his restaurant in August 2023, has been released without charge by Jackson County Family Court. The teenager had been held in custody since shortly after the fatal shooting of Mr Brady.

On Tuesday last, the release of the teen, who was charged in juvenile court, was confirmed by his defence attorney, Mr Matthew Merryman. The teen had been charged with second-degree murder, attempted theft of a motor vehicle and armed criminal action.
Mr Merryman stated “You know this case generated a ton of local and international attention and when the public outrage is so high. There was a rush to find someone and hold them accountable. Here there was a rush to judgment and the teen was just the first Black kid they found to pin that judgment on.”

A second teen, a 15-year-old remains similarly charged. A December hearing is set to determine whether he will be tried as an adult.

With the investigation still open, Mr Brady’s death came as a shock to his Brookside neighbours and the larger Kansas City community. This shooting is understood to have come about amid a rash of other thefts and break-ins in the area.

Age 44 years, Mr Brady, who was married with two young children, was the co-owner of the Brady & Fox Restaurant and Lounge, 751 E. 63rd Street. and a prominent member of Kansas City’s Irish heritage community. He lost his life on August 28th 2023, two days before he was to be part of the Kansas City Irish Fest, which he took part in on an annual basis.

At Around 5:00pm. on the evening in question, he reportedly attended at the rear of his restaurant to find a group of teenagers attempting to steal his motor vehicle. Following an argument he was shot.
This altercation was caught on security cameras and the two teens were arrested two days later, by Kansas City police.

Kansas City Police Department confirm that Mr Brady’s shooting remains an open investigation.

AIB Urge Customers To Remain Vigilant Against Fraud.

Ms Deborah Kilbride (AIB Financial Crime Prevention team) posts reminder to customers this Christmas.

As we head into the festive season and 2024 draws to a close, we are urging customers to remain vigilant against fraud as it can affect any of us at any time.
Criminal activity continues even during the festive season. We want to alert you to common scams that have been prevalent this year. We all lead busy lives, and it just takes a second to get caught off guard and fall for a scam. Here is some information and ways to avoid being scammed.

Text message fraud.

Fraudulent text messages claiming to be from reputable banks, delivery or utility companies and government departments are common. Take a moment and ask yourself does this seem legitimate?
Don’t click the link in the text message or share your personal or financial information.
Often these messages are followed by a phone call claiming to be us, sometimes even using our actual phone number. End the call immediately. We will never call you and request security codes sent by text message, push messages or from your card reader.
We will never send a taxi or courier to collect your physical card, PIN or any security details.

Phone call fraud.

Fraudsters often use phone calls to get your personal and financial information for their own financial gain. They may pretend to be from a legitimate company and may even display a genuine phone number. Common tricks used on these calls is to offer to fix an issue with your broadband or offer a refund. They may try to take control of your device. Never download software or apps, that they suggest, onto your computer or mobile phone as this will allow fraudsters access to your information.
End any unexpected calls.
Call the company back on a known and trusted number to verify the call.

Investment fraud.

Investment frauds and scams are on the rise, with criminals using social media to advertise highly profitable investments. These ads often use advanced technology to appear legitimate.
Always ask yourself, is this too good to be true? Such high return investments are usually not genuine. Before investing your money take some time to research the provider, verify their existence and that they are regulated and always seek independent financial advice.

Purchase scams.

Online shopping is convenient and popular, especially at Christmas time, but criminals can clone genuine websites to offer fake discounts to target unsuspecting customers. This can happen with any site, including clothing, homewares, or heavy goods vehicles such as diggers, campervans and boats. These cloned sites often look and feel genuine.
When shopping online, check for a padlock symbol in the address bar, research the site for negative reviews, and verify contact details. Avoid direct bank transfers. Ask yourself, is this price too good to be true?

Money mules

Being a money mule is a criminal offence.
Criminals use others’ accounts to transfer stolen money to conceal their crime. They can trick anyone into using their accounts. Without access to your account, criminals will not be successful.
They may approach you online, in person, on social media or through fake job adverts asking to move money through your accounts or to open a bank account in your name for them. They may even offer you some money as payment.
This use of your account, even if you don’t know where the money has come from or is going to, means you are becoming a money mule. This may result in your bank account being closed or a criminal conviction for money laundering.
Parents should also be aware that teenagers and young adults are often targeted by criminals, with the promise of quick cash so sharing this information with family members can also be helpful.

For more information on the latest frauds and scams visit the security centre on the AIB website.