Thurles Information

Civil Orders To Prevent Stalking And Protect Victims Introduced.

A new law comes into effect today (Monday September 2nd 2024) that will allow for someone who has been subjected to stalking behaviour, to apply to the District Court for a civil order to prohibit such behaviour continuing.

This was introduced by Part 5 of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 Act which was first signed into law by President Michael D. Higgins in July 2023.

Part 5 of that Act introduces a new system of civil orders designed to prevent stalking and protect victims, Same represents an important first step in addressing stalking behaviour, by allowing for earlier intervention without requiring the level of proof needed to secure a criminal conviction.

Under this Act, an affected person, or a member of An Garda Síochána acting on their behalf, can apply to the District Court for an order prohibiting another person from engaging in relevant conduct.

This new approach extends protections currently available to certain victims, under the Domestic Violence Act 2018, to all victims of stalking behaviour, regardless of their relationship with the perpetrator. These new civil orders complement the criminal post-conviction orders, available under the new provisions in section 10 of the 1997 Act, which apply when a person has been found guilty of the offence of stalking.

Part 5 also provides for the making of orders on an ex-parte basis, where the court is satisfied that there is an immediate risk to the safety and welfare of the applicant. Additionally, the court may grant an interim order pending the final determination of the application, where the court deems it necessary and proportionate for the safety and welfare of the applicant. The benefit of these ex-parte and interim orders is that they will provide victims with immediate protection against ongoing offending behaviour, while they await the determination of their application.

Legal and operational preparations, including the drafting and adoption of new rules of court, were required before the commencement of Part 5 of the Act and the required rules of Court also come into effect today, September 2nd, 2024.

Police in Missouri, in the mid-western region of the United States have identified Irish national, Mr Shaun Brady, as the victim of a shooting in Kansas City yesterday evening.

Mr Brady, aged 45, was originally from Co Tipperary but had moved to the United States some years ago.

Police have confirmed that officers of the Kansas City Police department responded to reports of a shooting at 5:18pm local time, in the 63rd and Rockhill area and upon arrival officers located an adult male victim, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, in a back parking area close to a number of businesses premises.

Police and Emergency Medical Personnel responded, performing life saving measures, before transporting the victim to a local hospital, where sadly he was pronounced dead

It is understood that Mr Brady was taking out rubbish when he observed multiple individuals at a parked vehicle. An altercation occurred between Mr Brady and the individuals which then led to Mr Brady’s demise. Police officers have interviewed several witnesses and are expected to review available surveillance footage. Two teenagers are understood to be assisting police with their investigations.

Mr Brady grew up in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, Ireland, and was one of the youngest graduates of the Dublin Institute of Technology. After falling in love with the Dublin restaurant scene, Mr Brady worked in kitchens in both Europe and Asia, before eventually embarking on a culinary career in Chicago. He relocated to Kansas City to become Executive Chef at the Ambassador Hotel

Mr Brady later became the chef at his co-owned Brady & Fox Restaurant & Lounge, and became a highly regarded member of the Irish ex-pat community in Kansas city. Mr Brady was a regular contributor to the local television station FOX4 and showcased Irish food to promote ‘Irish Fest’, (latter an Irish themed food festival), performing live cooking demonstrations for the public.

Mr Brady, a father, is survived by his wife Kate, a Wichita native, whom she first met while on vacation here in Ireland.