A jury in Georgia, South Carolina, USA, has ordered the Monsanto parent company Bayer to pay nearly $2.1 billion in damages to a man who maintains the company’s Roundup weed killer caused his cancer, according to his attorneys.
This verdict, delivered on Friday last, marks the latest in a long-running series of court battles that Monsanto has faced over its Roundup herbicide. The agrochemical giant says it will appeal the verdict, in an efforts to overturn the court’s decision.
In a statement, law firms Arnold & Itkin LLP and Kline & Specter PC said that the penalties awarded to the plaintiff will include $65 million in compensatory damages and $2 billion in punitive damages. This marks one of the largest legal settlements reached in a Roundup weed killer related case to date.
The plaintiff named as Mr John Barnes filed his lawsuit against Monsanto in 2021, seeking damages which related to his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The lead trial lawyer, Arnold & Itkin attorney Kyle Findley, stated that the verdict will help to place his client in a better disposition in order to obtain necessary treatment needed going forward.
The verdict on the case is seen as an important moment of truth, following the refusal by Monsanto to accept responsibility for poisoning people with their product, same regarded as highly toxic.
Glyphosate is a herbicide used to kill certain plants and grasses and is the declared active ingredient in most versions of Roundup. The biggest users of glyphosate are growers of crops that have been genetically engineered to be resistant to the herbicide. This allows the plant to survive while killing nearby weeds. The crops with the highest use of glyphosate are modified corn, cotton, and soybeans.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the U.S. maintain that glyphosate is not likely to cause cancer in humans. But there is concern about the other ingredients in Roundup, as they may be more toxic than glyphosate. These other chemicals are not the active ingredients in Roundup, so they are rarely the focus of regulatory health risk assessments. One study found that Roundup was among the most toxic of the herbicides and insecticides tested.
201 trainees enter Templemore Garda College, Templemore, Co. Tipperary, in highest intake in over six years.
6,700 applications received in latest recruitment campaign.
149 new Gardaí were attested from Templemore Garda College last Friday.
201 trainees entered the Garda College in Templemore today Monday March 10th 2025, the highest number since 2019. This intake follows the attestation of 149 new probationer Gardaí at a ceremony in Templemore on Friday last.
We understand that this high intake reflects the growing momentum in Garda recruitment.
The latest Garda recruitment campaign was launched in February last and received over 6,700 applications. This marks a continued increase on the 5,000 applications received in 2023 and the almost 6,400 last year.
Some 32% of applicants are female, while 42% of applicants are aged 30 years and over, and 23% of those detailed are from an ethnic background, sharing characteristics such as culture, language, religion, and traditions, other than being white Irish. This is important since An Garda Síochána is a community-focused policing service, and therefore should reflect diverse and thriving communities.
The Government is fully committed to strengthening An Garda Síochána by 5,000 members over the next five years.
The windows and glass doors of two popular business premised situated on Liberty Square, in Thurles town centre, were severely damaged sometime over the past 24 hours.
“Treasure Box”, No. 36 Liberty Square, Thurles.
One of the premises and the building most severely damaged was a recently opened convenience store known as “Treasure box”, latter situated at No. 36 Liberty Square, (formerly Stakelum’s Ladies Boutique), close to Barry’s Bridge and opposite the medieval Butler Castle.
“Roma” Fish & Chips Take Away at No. 59 Liberty Square, Thurles.
The other businesses damaged were a Take Away Fish & Chips premises known as “Roma”, situated at No. 59, central on Liberty Square.
We understand that local investigating Gardaí are following a definite line of enquiry and have identified the individual involved in this senseless behaviour.
The reason for the malicious damage caused, is not fully understood, but locals strongly condemn it as a possible racist attack, by one badly informed individual.
Cashel Garda Station are to host a Coffee Morning, on Saturday March 8thnext, 2025 in conjunction with Women’s aid National day.
Women’s Aid is a national feminist organisation working to prevent and address the prevalence of domestic abuse within Irish society; how it impacts especially women during pregnancy and how employers can lead in addressing domestic abuse within the workplace.
The coffee morning will run from 11:00am until 1:00pm and the public are invited to pop in for something nice, to help support a worthy cause or even for a bit of advice or information.
Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland established effective from 5 March 2025.
Seven members to be appointed to independent authority, including chairperson Mr Paul Quinn.
An order for parts of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024, enabling the Authority to become operational to establish Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, on a statutory basis, will now commence.
Seven members of this new, independent Authority, will be appointed and commence their roles with effect from tomorrow, March 5th, 2025. They will be the members of the Authority which will be responsible for regulating and licencing all gambling providers in the State and which will have wide ranging powers to regulate both in-person and online gambling, gaming and most lotteries.
Mr. Paul Quinn has been appointed as chair of the Authority and the other newly appointed members are named as follows:- Ms. Celine Craig. Ms. Marion Kelly. Ms. Rita Purcell. Mr. David Hickson. Mr. Michael McGrath. Dr. Colin O’Driscoll, (Ordinary Member).
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