Tag Archives: gardai

As heavy rain and hail showers are forecast this evening (Tuesday), gardaí have appealed to road users to take extra care and for drivers to always drive at a speed appropriate to the conditions. The heavy rain and hail showers will create potentially hazardous conditions for road users. Road users are advised: • It takes longer to stop a vehicle on wet roads so slow down and allow extra distance between you and the vehicle in front. • Heavy hail showers will make roads slippery, increase stopping distances and reduce visibility. • Take special care when driving behind trucks or buses as they generate a considerable amount of spray which reduces your visibility. • Watch out for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. • Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are advised to be seen. Wear bright clothing with reflective armbands or a reflective belt. • Pedestrians should walk on a footpath, and if there is no footpath, walk …

CLARE’S Garda Division cannot afford to lose any more gardaí, as resources are “stretched”, following a 13% decrease in personnel over the last six years. That’s the view expressed by the division head, Chief Superintendent John Kerin, at this week’s Joint Policing Committee meeting in Ennis. The Garda chief said four upcoming retirements and five promotions would pose further challenges. He said he is “seriously concerned” by the reduction of 44 gardaí in the Clare Garda Division, which has occurred over the last six years. There are now 294 gardaí in the division, compared to the 338 gardaí who were stationed in County Clare back in 2010. Since 2010, the number of superintendents has fallen from four down to two, while the number of sergeants in the division has been reduced from 42 down to 38. Chief Superintendent Kerin said rural counties, such as Clare, are “suffering”. He added, “I hope the situation doesn’t deteriorate any further. It’s difficult to …

TRAFFIC was blocked for a period of time in the Market in Ennis this afternoon, after a crash which involved five vehicles. While an ambulance was present at the scene, a Garda spokesman said that there were no serious injuries. The incident occurred at around 3pm, when a Toyota Corolla came off the road and struck a Toyota Avensis, which was in a parking space right in front of Taylor’s pub. The Avensis then struck a vehicle in front of it, and the knock on effect resulted in another two vehicles being damaged. Both the Corolla and the Avensis were very badly damaged, but the impact on the other vehicles didn’t seem to be anywhere near as serious. Speaking to the Champion shortly after the incident, the owner of the Avensis said she hadn’t been in the vehicle when the crash happened. “I was above around the corner and we heard an unmerciful bang,” she commented. The woman was quite emotional and …

As part of an operation targeting the illegal sale and supply of controlled drugs in the Shannon area Gardaí have seized cannabis herb (pending analysis) with an estimated street value of €110,000. A van was stopped and searched in Clonmoney West, Bunratty, on Wednesday afternoon at approximately 3.30pm; during the course of the search cannabis herb was seized. Two men, aged 37 and 27, were arrested in connection with this incident and were currently detained at Shannon Garda Station under the provisions of Section 2 – Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. These operations use advanced analytical and intelligence methods to disrupt criminals and dismantle their networks. Drug seizures play a critical role in targeting the livelihood of criminals and reducing their ability to carry out illegal activities. Drug seizures also help protect communities from the devastating impact of drugs and the associated criminality.

THE Road Safety Authority and gardaí are cautioning drivers about the the danger of ‘sun glare’, which results in drivers being temporarily dazzled or blinded by the intensity and brightness of a low sun. The appeal comes as provisional crash reports indicate that drivers being temporarily blinded by ‘sun glare’ may have been a contributory factor in five fatalities and nine serious injuries between 2014 and 2015. Moyagh Murdock, CEO, RSA said, “Because, at this time of the year, the sun sits so low in the sky, late in the morning and early evening, corresponding with the main commuting times, the sun visor on the car isn’t really much help at all. If a driver is driving straight into such a sun he or she can be completely dazzled by the sheer intensity and brightness of its rays. The situation is made worse if the windscreen is dirty or greasy or if it’s been raining, or the ground is covered …

The Road Safety Authority (RSA), has today (Monday) issued a reminder to all road users to continue to exercise caution when using the roads. Even though weather conditions have improved, road conditions in parts of the country are still hazardous due to the continued presence of flooding on roads. There is also the added danger posed by storm damaged road surfaces and gravel / stones deposited by surface water, especially on regional roads. The RSA advises the following: Driver behaviour needs to match the road conditions on roads. Debris deposited by the recent rainwater (surface run off) and wet roads will reduce grip so drivers are asked to slow down and increase braking distances, by leaving a bigger gap between vehicles. DO NOT attempt to drive through flooded roads as stranded cars are causing obstruction and a hazard in some locations. Pay attention to any advice or signage that either the local authorities or the gardaí have in place for road closures …

THE prisoner who escaped from Ennis Courthouse on Wednesday afternoon is still at large more than 24 hours later. Jason Freyne, a 22-year-old man from Carew Park in Limerick, appeared before Judge Patrck Durcan on Wednesday, where he accepted he had stolen a car in April and that he was also guilty of other related charges. He was already serving a sentence prior to his appearance before Judge Durcan, who adjourned the matter until Thursday but within hours, Mr Freyne had absconded. Shortly before 5pm on Thursday, gardaí confirmed that he has not been apprehended and the search for him continues.

A BODY was recovered off the Clare coast, close to Loop Head, this morning. A person who is involved with the Kilrush lifeboat was fishing off the coast at around 10am, when he saw the body and made a call to the lifeboat station. The lifeboat crew were then paged and the vessel was launched about 20 minutes later. The body was recovered at about 11.15am and was said to be in a bad state of decomposition, apparently having been in the water for some weeks. The body was brought back to Kilrush and the last rites were performed by Fr Martin Blake. It was subsequently brought to University Hospital Limerick for a post mortem. Kilrush lifeboat received support from the local gardai and the Kilkee Coastguard Unit during the recovery.