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Sunday World
26-06-2025
- Sunday World
Garda and wife use anti-stalking laws for restraining order against senior officer
The couple are representing themselves and lodged an application at Dublin District Court, which came before Judge Aine Clancy today. A garda and his wife are using anti-stalking laws to secure a civil restraining order against a high-ranking superior officer claiming harassment and bullying. They lodged an application at Dublin District Court, which came before Judge Aine Clancy today. The proceedings are being held in camera, meaning the public cannot attend, and parties involved cannot be identified due to reporting restrictions. Brian Gageby BL, instructed by the Chief State Solicitor's Office, acted for the respondent, and the judge noted that they had filed a 63-page affidavit. Stock image: PA News in 90 Seconds - June 26th Counsel described it as an unusual case where the applicants have alleged bullying and harassment; however the senior officer's case was that he was acting in the course of his duty. The couple are representing themselves. The garda's wife said the respondent's affidavit amounted to misinformation, which she described as horrendous. Her husband also contended that the manner in which the documents were served on him "has caused severe distress and personal alarm to me and my family." He added that in future, he was agreeable to collecting any further material from a garda premises, and he raised concerns that at an earlier stage in the proceedings, other gardaí were in court as part of a police plan allegedly at the request of the respondent. The couple have summoned six other officers to give evidence, and the respondent has already given a personal assurance to stay away from the couple, their home, children and pets. Mr Gageby said that there was no difficulty with that continuing. Judge Clancy ordered the officer and his wife to file responding affidavits by July 30, and the case will be listed for mention the following day. She set aside a whole day for the hearing of the action in early October. The civil restraining orders were introduced in the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 as a measure for people seeking protection. The District Court may issue an order to prevent the respondent from violence or threats, stalking, harassing or approaching the applicant's home, work, or school. It can run for up to five years but may be shorter. Breaking it could mean jail for up to a year and a maximum of €4,000 fine.
The Journal
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Tender for €9m school phone pouches plan is shelved in favour of 'storage solution' plan
THE GOVERNMENT HAS confirmed that plans for schools to have access to lockable phone pouches have been replaced with plans for schools to provide whatever 'phone storage solution works best for them'. The €9 million spend was among the most contentious measures announced in Budget 2025 last October . Earlier this year, tender documents were issued seeking the contract for the 'Provision of Secure Mobile Phone Pouches for Students in Post Primary Schools'. This tender process was subsequently cancelled by the Department of Education following advice from the Chief State Solicitor's Office and a new process was put in train. Speaking in the Dáil today, Tánaiste Simon Harris said this was a 'pragmatic and sensible way to proceed' and that schools would still be able to seek funding for lockable pouches or an alternative solution later this year. 'Guidance will soon be provided by circular to all schools on putting in place policies to ensure schools are mobile phone-free zones during the school day,' Harris said. Further guidance will be provided to post-primary schools, outlining the terms, conditions and mechanisms for post-primary schools to apply for funding to enable them purchase secure mobile phone storage solutions. 'Schools will now be able to apply for funding for what phone storage solution works best for them. Examples already include the pouches you referenced, but also lockable boxes or cubbies, drop off and collection at the school office, what works best for the school.' Advertisement He added: 'I think this is a pragmatic and sensible way to proceed.' Harris also said that this funding arrangement would be available for schools in autumn 2025. 'We're now going to very shortly see a new procurement process published in the coming days,' he said. An application process will be open to post-primary schools soon, and the issue of funding will commence shortly thereafter. In a statement to The Journal earlier this week, the Department of Education said that there will be no delay in allowing schools apply. 'The department had commenced a tender process for the provision of mobile phone pouches earlier in the year. Following advice received from the Chief State Solicitor's Office, the department took the decision to cancel this process. A new procurement process will be published in the coming weeks,' the department said. 'This central procurement arrangement will be available to schools in autumn 2025. This will not delay schools in applying for and accessing the funding process for phone storage solutions, which will be open to schools soon.' When the plans were announced last year, some teachers and parents were critical of the measure , suggesting the money could be spent better elsewhere – and that teenagers will find workarounds to the phone restrictions. At the time, then-education minister Norma Foley said it was 'a health and wellbeing measure' to improve student learning outcomes, sociability and mental health within schools. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
