Latest news with #AnGardaSiochána
Agriland
11-07-2025
- Climate
- Agriland
DAFM issues condition red extreme forest fire risk warning
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has issued a forest fire danger rating of condition red – extreme fire risk. The notice was issued by DAFM at 3:00p.m yesterday (July 10), and the alert will remain in effect until 12:00p.m Monday (July 14). DAFM said: 'Arising from current weather patterns, an extreme fire risk is deemed to exist in all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses and shrub fuels such as heather and gorse exist.' Current hot and dry weather conditions are forecast to remain in place over the weekend with greatly increased forest fire risks expected as a result. According to DAFM, fire behaviour and spread rates will be moderated by live growth in upland vegetation but will be increasingly influenced by high temperatures, low humidity levels <50%, and variable light to moderate windspeeds during the span of this notice. Windspeeds may exceed 25km/h in some areas over the weekend. Forest fire Forest fire risk is likely to be increased by expected high levels of public and visitor activity in fire-prone areas during the weekend. DAFM stresses that high vigilance is needed in areas with intensive public access and recreational use. Visitors to public recreational areas should cooperate with all fire safety requirements, and are requested not to light open fires or barbeques in forest areas. Landowners and managers should remain vigilant to all fire activity and report all suspicious activity to An Garda Siochána. DAFM ask visitors to forests and other recreational sites to 'cooperate with all requests regarding fire safety, obey all relevant bye-laws and be considerate in parking vehicles so as not to impede access by emergency vehicles'. Minster of State at DAFM, Michael Healy-Rae said: 'The current weather gives people a great opportunity to enjoy our forests, National Parks, beaches and beauty spots at their best. 'Everyone has a duty to protect these areas and our rural livelihoods from the risk of fire. We want people to enjoy themselves responsibly, but to leave the barbecues and campfires at home this weekend. 'Be mindful of how you park and report fires immediately to emergency services via 112.' The Department advises that where a fire breaks out, at, or near recreational areas the following actions should be taken by visitors in the interests of safety: Do not cause or light fires in and around forests or open land; Dispose of smoking materials responsibly; Do not attempt to intervene or fight fires under any circumstances; Gather all family/group members and move to a safe fuel-free location such as a car park, upwind of the fire; Telephone Fire and Rescue Services via 112 and report the fire and its location. Extreme weather Separately, Met Éireann have issued two Status Yellow weather warnings for high temperatures across the country over the coming days. The first weather warning will come into affect from 12:00p.m today (July 11) until 6:00a.m Saturday (July 12), and will impact counties Carlow, Cavan, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary, and Westmeath. The second warning is valid from 12:00p.m Saturday (July 12) until 6:00a.m Sunday (July 13), and will effect the whole country. Daytime temperatures in excess of 27°C are expected, combined with night-time minimum temperatures in excess of 15°C, for the duration of both warnings. Potential Impacts include the following: Water safety issues due to increased use of lakes/beaches; Possible forest fires; Uncomfortable sleeping conditions; Heat stress.
The Journal
08-07-2025
- The Journal
Court orders extradition of child abuser Oliver O'Grady to serve prison sentence in Portugal
THE HIGH COURT has ordered the extradition of former priest and prolific child abuser Oliver O'Grady – who was featured in an Oscar-nominated documentary – to serve a one-year prison sentence in Portugal for having more than 9,000 images and 29 videos of child sexual abuse. O'Grady (80) of Rostrevor Court, Mackin Street, Dublin 2 was arrested on 21 January 2025 on foot of a European Arrest Warrant issued by a court in Faro in Portugal. The warrant states that O'Grady was tried on a charge of possession of 'pornography of minors', convicted and sentenced to one year in prison in his absence by a Portuguese court after he failed to attend his trial on 7 May 2024. In opposing his surrender to Portugal, O'Grady complained that his fair trial rights were not adequately protected in the process that led to his conviction. He said that he had been unable to contact a lawyer appointed to defend him in Portugal. He further complained that his surrender would be incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights and the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms because of a real risk of inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in the Portuguese prison system. To bolster his claim, he said he spent time in the Prisional de Setubal in Portugal in October 2019 after he was arrested on foot of a European Arrest Warrant from Ireland. He maintained that while incarcerated there he was not provided with medication, the facilities were unhygienic and, as a segregated prisoner on remand in respect of sexual offences, he was abused and had apples thrown at him. However, Justice Patrick McGrath at the High Court in Dublin found O'Grady's evidence relating to the trial process to be 'disingenuous and self-serving'. The judge found that O'Grady had tried to control the proceedings. Portuguese authorities, through An Garda Siochána, notified O'Grady of his obligation to attend his trial and the consequences of failure to attend, the judge said. There was no impediment to him travelling for his trial and, being a man familiar with the court system, he knew his inability to contact a lawyer did not excuse him from attendance, Justice McGrath said. O'Grady revealed his true mindset in an email he sent to the Portuguese prosecutor on 11 April 2024, the judge said. In the email, O'Grady showed that he knew of the impending hearing date but suggested he might not attend unless he could be assured of being admitted to bail. Advertisement Justice McGrath said: 'This is not the mindset of a person who is unaware of a duty to attend at court and of the possible consequences of non-attendance, but rather shows a person who is trying to control the outcome of proceedings.' Justice McGrath added that O'Grady was 'clearly trying to manipulate the system to try to secure a certain outcome'. Had he attended his trial, as he was required to do, he would have been given proper legal assistance before entering a plea, the judge said. His failure to obtain effective legal assistance flows from his failure to attend, Justice McGrath added. In relation to the risk of inhuman or degrading treatment, Justice McGrath said the conditions at the Carreguiera prison in which O'Grady will be housed in Portugal have not been criticised. He said he is satisfied from assurances given by the Portuguese authorities that no such risk exists. O'Grady has a long history of sexual offences against children. Originally from Limerick, O'Grady emigrated to America after joining the priesthood. In 1993 he was convicted in California of lewd acts against children for repeatedly molesting two brothers. He was released after serving seven years in prison before being deported to Ireland in 2001. His crimes in California were the subject of a 2006 documentary titled 'Deliver us From Evil', in which O'Grady gave an account of his offending. In January 2012, he was jailed in Ireland for three years for possessing hundreds of thousands of images of child pornography. The images were discovered after he left his computer on an Aer Lingus flight in February 2010 and a staff member who discovered the files on the device alerted gardaí. 280,000 images showing children in sexual poses and 1,000 video files of child abuse material, known in law as 'child pornography', were discovered on the device. He moved to Amsterdam where he lived for several years before returning to Ireland. It was on this flight back to his home country that he left his laptop behind. In 2020, he was sentenced to 22 months in prison at Waterford Circuit Court for possessing child pornography. He had pleaded not guilty to one charge of possessing a video of an underage girl engaging in a sexual act on a date between December 2015 and March 2016 at St Otteran's Place, South Parade, Waterford city but was convicted by a jury. A former housemate reported O'Grady to gardaí after discovering a sexually explicit video on the computer.
Sunday World
08-07-2025
- Sunday World
Former priest and serial child abuser Oliver O'Grady to serve prison sentence in Portugal
EXTRADITION | O'Grady (80) was arrested on January 21, 2025 on foot of a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued by a court in Faro in Portugal Ex-priest Oliver O'Grady O'Grady (80) of Rostrevor Court, Mackin Street, Dublin 2 was arrested on January 21, 2025 on foot of a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued by a court in Faro in Portugal. The EAW states that O'Grady was tried on a charge of possession of "pornography of minors", convicted and sentenced to one year in prison in his absence by a Portuguese court after he failed to attend his trial on May 7, 2024. In opposing his surrender to Portugal, O'Grady complained that his fair trial rights were not adequately protected in the process that led to his conviction. He said that he had been unable to contact a lawyer appointed to defend him in Portugal. He further complained that his surrender would be incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights and the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms because of a real risk of inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in the Portuguese prison system. To bolster his claim, he said he spent time in the Prisional de Setubal in Portugal in October, 2019 after he was arrested on foot of an EAW from Ireland. He maintained that while incarcerated there he was not provided with medication, the facilities were unhygienic and, as a segregated prisoner on remand in respect of sexual offences, he was abused and had apples thrown at him. However, Mr Justice Patrick McGrath at the High Court in Dublin found O'Grady's evidence relating to the trial process to be "disingenuous and self-serving". The judge found that O'Grady had tried to control the proceedings. Portuguese authorities, through An Garda Siochána, notified O'Grady of his obligation to attend his trial and the consequences of failure to attend, the judge said. There was no impediment to him travelling for his trial and, being a man familiar with the court system, he knew his inability to contact a lawyer did not excuse him from attendance, Mr Justice McGrath said. O'Grady revealed his true mindset in an email he sent to the Portuguese prosecutor on April 11, 2024, the judge said. In the email, O'Grady showed that he knew of the impending hearing date but suggested he might not attend unless he could be assured of being admitted to bail. Mr Justice McGrath said: "This is not the mindset of a person who is unaware of a duty to attend at court and of the possible consequences of non-attendance, but rather shows a person who is trying to control the outcome of proceedings." Mr Justice McGrath added that O'Grady was "clearly trying to manipulate the system to try to secure a certain outcome". Had he attended his trial, as he was required to do, he would have been given proper legal assistance before entering a plea, the judge said. His failure to obtain effective legal assistance flows from his failure to attend, Mr Justice McGrath added. Ex-priest Oliver O'Grady Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 8th In relation to the risk of inhuman or degrading treatment, Mr Justice McGrath said the conditions at the Carreguiera prison in which O'Grady will be housed in Portugal have not been criticised. He said he is satisfied from assurances given by the Portuguese authorities that no such risk exists. O'Grady has a long history of sexual offences against children. Originally from Limerick, O'Grady emigrated to America after joining the priesthood. In 1993 he was convicted in California of lewd acts against children for repeatedly molesting two brothers. He was released after serving seven years in prison before being deported to Ireland in 2001. His crimes in California were the subject of a 2006 documentary titled 'Deliver us From Evil', in which O'Grady gave an account of his offending. In January 2012, he was jailed in Ireland for three years for possessing hundreds of thousands of images of child pornography. The images were discovered after he left his computer on an Aer Lingus flight in February 2010 and a staff member who discovered the files on the device alerted gardaí. 280,000 images showing children in sexual poses and 1,000 video files of child abuse material, known in law as "child pornography", were discovered on the device. He moved to Amsterdam where he lived for several years before returning to Ireland. It was on this flight back to his home country that he left his laptop behind. In 2020, he was sentenced to 22 months in prison at Waterford Circuit Court for possessing child pornography. He had pleaded not guilty to one charge of possessing a video of an underage girl engaging in a sexual act on a date between December 2015 and March 2016 at St Otteran's Place, South Parade, Waterford city but was convicted by a jury. A former housemate reported O'Grady to gardaí after discovering a sexually explicit video on the computer.
Irish Examiner
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Waterford FC confirm sanction by FAI after racist incident against Shamrock Rovers
Waterford FC have confirmed that they have been formally sanctioned by the Football Association of Ireland following a racist incident that took place at the Regional Sports Centre back in May. It had been reported that a fan aimed a racist comment at Shamrock Rovers teenager Victor Ozhianvuna prior to their Premier Division clash at the RSC, which Rovers won 3-1. In the aftermath of that incident, Waterford released a statement to insist that they take "all reports of discrimination incredibly seriously" and that they are "fully co-operating with the authorities on the matter." Read More John Fallon: Few will rival Damien Duff's legacy of promoting League of Ireland And on Wednesday, the club announced that they have been sanctioned by the FAI and that the investigation with An Garda Siochána remains ongoing. "Waterford Football Club can confirm the club has been formally sanctioned by the FAI following a racist incident that took place during our SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division game against Shamrock Rovers FC on Friday 16 May. "Waterford FC stand side by side with the League of Ireland and our supporters in taking a zero-tolerance approach to tackling racism within the game. "This investigation remains ongoing with An Garda Siochána. Waterford FC will remain in close support to An Garda Siochána in this investigation."
Irish Examiner
19-06-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Tributes to Kerry farmer and All-Ireland sheep shearing champion who died in farm fatality
Tributes are being paid to a multiple All-Ireland sheep shearing champion who was killed in a farming accident in Co Kerry on Tuesday. She has been named locally as Breda Lynch, 64, from Bonane, Kenmare, who lost her life following a fatal farm accident in Kerry. The fatal workplace accident occurred in Bonane on Tuesday evening at 5pm. Ms Lynch was an All-Ireland sheep shearing champion on several occasions. Speaking at an event in 2019 about her career, she said she wasn't sure how many All-Irelands she had won. "I definitely have 12 but it could be 14." She added: "I didn't get a trophy every year I won so I don't actually know how many I have won. "I won the All-Ireland Ladies Championship on Sunday with the electric shears, and I had only gone up as a spectator. I've been ill for a few years, and at one point I thought I'd never compete again. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing. I also got a certificate for Outstanding Service to the Sheep-Shearing Industry''. Paying tribute, local councillor Dan McCarthy, who is also the manager of Kenmare Mart, said there was huge shock in the area at Breda's death. "She was very well-known in this area and beyond." A spokesperson for An Garda Siochána confirmed they attended the accident and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. 'Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of a work-related incident that occurred in Bonane, Kenmare, Co Kerry, on Tuesday June 17, 2025, at approximately 5pm.' Gardaí said an examination of the scene was conducted. The Coroner for Kerry has been notified and a file will be prepared for the Coroner's Court. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) was notified and is investigating the matter. The HSA has also confirmed an investigation is under way. No funeral arrangements have been made as yet.
