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Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Hundreds of prisoners released early to ease overcrowding
Freed inmates include 46 who were jailed for attempts or threats to murder, assault and harassment Hundreds of criminals convicted of drug offences and theft are being given temporary release to ease the overcrowding crisis in Irish jails. Figures released by the Irish Prison Service (IPS) show that 46 prisoners in jail for attempts or threats to murder, assault and harassment were also set free with conditions over their release. The number of inmates being offered temporary release has risen sharply over the past two years due to chronic overcrowding in prisons. Data on the type of offenders granted temporary release show more than 580 people were released on a date in the middle of May. Overcrowding is a serious problem in Irish jails. Photo: Getty News in 90 Seconds - Sunday July 13 The largest group of offenders were people convicted of controlled drug offences — including possession and dealing — of whom 157 criminals were released. There were a further 152 people on the streets who were serving sentences for theft, while 72 doing time for road and traffic offences were given temporary release. There was a single person in prison for a homicide offence granted temporary release while nine others convicted of robbery, extortion, or hijacking were let loose. A total of 36 people serving sentences for burglary and related offences were freed, as well as 40 prisoners found guilty of fraud, deception, or similar offences. Five people in prison for weapons and explosives offences were given temporary release, along with 12 serving sentences for offences against the State or organised crime. The Dóchas Centre in Dublin The Department of Justice has been repeatedly warned by both the director general of the IPS and the Prison Officers Association of the serious risk to staff and those behind bars because of packed prisons. Figures from the IPS also show that female prisoners are far more likely to be granted temporary release than males. Of the 584 people on temporary release in mid-May, 131 of them were women while 453 were men — but female criminals generally make up significantly less than 10pc of the overall prison population. The data showed 39 women were on temporary release from the women's wing of Limerick Prison, while 92 from the Dóchas Centre in Dublin were freed. The number of prisoners on temporary release at Mountjoy Men's Prison was 186. The IPS said two individuals serving sentences of over 10 years were let free from jail early. One of them was a man in Mountjoy Prison who was in jail for an attempt or threat to murder, or assault or harassment. Another woman from the adjoining Dóchas Centre was given temporary release from her 10-year sentence for a fraud offence. The figures cover the day of May 13, when overall there were 5,350 people in custody including 375 people sleeping on mattresses. There were a further 1,015 individuals in the system who were on trial or on remand, leaving the IPS to manage 6,119 people. At that time, it officially had space for just 4,666 prisoners and were operating at 115pc capacity with temporary release one of the only options available to manage the volume. A spokesman said the IPS had to accept into custody all people who had been committed to prison by the courts. He said the service was currently operating at 118pc capacity with 446 prisoners sleeping on mattresses and 586 on temporary release.
Sunday World
6 days ago
- Sunday World
Teacher had sex with Leaving Cert student in her mother's bed, tribunal told
She told a fitness-to-teach inquiry that at one point he said it would be 'hot' if she wore her school uniform during sex A schoolteacher had sex with a Leaving Cert student in her mother's bed and his car after sharing explicit photos with her on Snapchat, it is alleged. The then 18-year-old said she was 'naive and vulnerable' when her class head teacher started an inappropriate relationship with her in the months before she sat her exams. She told a fitness-to-teach inquiry that at one point he said it would be 'hot' if she wore her school uniform during sex. It is further alleged that on their sixth year graduation night, he kissed the complainant's best friend, who described the teacher's behaviour as 'predatory.' The man is accused of professional misconduct and breaching the Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers, which he denies. The inquiry is being held by the Teaching Council following a complaint by a student known as Ms A, now in her 20s. It is alleged the teacher inappropriately communicated with her on Snapchat between October 2017 and June 2018, and sent her messages, photos, pictures and memes of an inappropriate and sexual nature between January and June, 2018. He is alleged to have provided her with alcohol and had an inappropriate sexual relationship with her between March and June that year. Further allegations relate to her friend, Ms B, who he allegedly touched and kissed in a pub in May 2018. Stock image: Getty News in 90 Seconds - July 10th Ms A said the teacher had given her maths grinds in 2017 but 'nothing untoward' happened. He added her on Snapchat late that year and as they exchanged messages, it was not her intention for anything romantic to happen, but she continued out of curiosity. The teacher was aged 28 at the time and had two children. 'I knew it was weird to speak to a teacher over Snapchat and I shouldn't be doing it,' Ms A said. He complimented her and joked about 'going off with a student.' The frequency and intimacy of the messages slowly increased and he started making sexual advances towards her, the inquiry heard. He 'tested the waters of what he could say to me' and as she became more responsive, it 'escalated' and they exchanged explicit photos. 'He would send me d**k pics of his genitals and I would send him nude pictures in return,' she said. He would 'encourage my alcohol use, knowing it would lower my inhibitions', saying 'you will be horny', she alleged. She said he told her she was better looking than her friends and asked about her boyfriend, saying to her: 'What are you doing with him?' She 'knew it was wrong' and felt that she cared more about the repercussions than she did, she said. She had mental health issues and was coping in ways that were 'wrong and unhealthy.' They first met after school in March 2018 when he dropped her home in his car, she continued. The next day, she alleged they went to her house while she was drunk and her mother was out. 'I kind of knew this was where it was going, it felt inevitable,' she said. 'I still had a bunk bed so we went into my mother's bed and had sex.' She alleged he later said of her boyfriend: 'Just tell him that you f**ked a teacher in your mam's bed.' When they allegedly had sex in his car, she 'felt reluctant and awkward' and she did not like 'the clunkiness of it.' She said it was 'too real' for her and she recalled being able to see his child's car seat, where he left a bottle of vodka he bought her. She said he told her they had not had sex while she was in her school uniform, saying 'that would be hot'. They also had sex in his apartment, she said. Some of the messages alleged to have been between the teacher and Ms A were retrieved, barrister Neasa Bird, for the director of the Teaching Council, said. In one message the man allegedly told Ms A his mother was asking if he was seeing an 'old one' and he told her 'no, she's the complete opposite, ha ha, a young one'. According to the message, his mother replied: 'Please say she's f**king legal.' Ms A said she believed he thought this was 'hilarious.' 'To be fair, your mother's allowed to drink your wine since we rode in her bed and her couch hahahahaha,' he allegedly said in another message. Ms A told the inquiry he responded to a nude photo she sent: 'hahaha love it.' Other messages read 'Should f**k soon', 'car sex later'.' Ms B said on graduation night in May 2018, she was walking upstairs when the teacher 'slapped my bum two to three times.' As they sat talking alone, she said, he played with the bow on her dress, saying he would like to undo it. Later, they were alone again in a dark corner when he kissed her and she did not pull away. She left and was surprised he had done this on her graduation night, but 'he had always given off a creepy vibe.' She said he added her on Snapchat and sent her a message: 'you should have come back to mine.' He continued to contact her with a 'flirty undertone,' she said. He allegedly sent a screenshot of an Instagram follow request from another student with the comment 'she wants it.' He also sent her a 'd**k pic' of his genitals, she said. Ms B said she blocked him because he 'had given me the creeps' but when he asked why, added him again because she felt she had to. Ms A said when she realised he was sending them both the same messages, she sent Ms B a 'sugarcoated' letter telling her about the relationship without disclosing its sexual nature. Ms Bird, for the director of the council, said the teacher had made submissions maintaining the complaint against him 'lacks detail'. He was not required to be present at the inquiry, and Ms Bird read from the submissions. In them, he stated allegations from Ms A including that he kissed her best friend on graduation night were not corroborated. He noted that the letter Ms A sent to Ms B stated 'nothing sexual occurred'. He said there were 'significant doubts' as to the credibility of her account, her case was a 'weak one' and there was 'no public interest' in referring it to inquiry. There was 'nothing to suggest he had anything other than an exemplary record of teaching,' he submitted. The inquiry continues next week.
Sunday World
23-06-2025
- Sunday World
Two men charged with attempted murder after daylight machete attack in town
Both men are due to appear at Downpatrick Magistrates Court today Two men, aged 60 and 30 years old, have both been charged with attempted murder in relation to a machete attack in Co Down. They are also both charged with possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence. Both men are due to appear at Downpatrick Magistrates Court today. As is normal procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service. The charges are in relation to a report of a serious assault of a man at the Tipperary Lane area of Newcastle on Saturday (June 21). Map showing location of Tipperary Lane in Newcastle, Co Down (Google Maps) The victim was left with serious injuries to his face, hands and legs after being assaulted with what is believed to have been a machete, police previously said. The incident happened at around 12:40pm in the afternoon. The suspects made off from the scene but were later detained by officers in the Bunkers Hill area. Stock photo: Getty News in 90 Seconds - Monday June 23
Sunday World
20-06-2025
- Climate
- Sunday World
Temperatures could hit highs of 29 degrees today – after hottest day of year so far yesterday
While the high temperatures are set to continue, unsettled conditions will appear closer to Sunday It could be the hottest day of the year so far as temperatures could reach as high as 29 degrees in parts of the country, though the spells of sunshine come with a chance of thunderstorms. Met Éireann issued a Status Yellow thunderstorm warning for counties Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Galway between 7am and 8am this morning. It comes after yesterday became the hottest day of the year so far today as temperatures hit 27 degrees, with the highest reading at Mount Dillon in Co Roscommon. It will be humid and hot today with long spells of sunshine and a few showers, and temperatures hitting highs of 24 to 29 degrees for the majority of the country. Photo: Getty News in 90 Seconds - June 20th Conditions are expected to feel slightly milder in Munster and south Leinster, with highest temperatures of 20 to 23 degrees. Overnight temperatures will not fall below 12 to 17 degrees during a mainly dry night, but isolated showers are possible in parts of Ulster and Leinster. Saturday will bring further warm, sunny spells with some scattered showers turning heavy and possibly thundery at times with highs of 19 to 25 degrees expected dropping to lows of 12 to 15 degrees overnight. However, Met Éireann has said the forecast will turn more unsettled over the coming days as an 'Atlantic regime takes hold'. Photo: Getty 7 Day Weather Forecast: June 16-22 Any remaining rain and drizzle will move away early Sunday morning leaving brighter spells, with highest temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees expected during the day and lowest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees expected during a night of some isolated showers. There will be a bright start to the day on Monday, with further showers turning into outbreaks of rain later on with highs of 13 to 18 degrees. Rain and drizzle will accompany cloudy conditions on Tuesday, with a few brighter spells breaking through in the north and west at times with highest temperatures of 15 to 19 degrees expected.
Sunday World
18-06-2025
- Sunday World
Umbrella-wielding drunk ‘squared up' to and threatened doormen, court hears
Father-of-five Bobocel Stanescu (31) was arrested after gardaí found him threatening security at a Spar in Dublin city centre A drunken man who brandished an umbrella and 'squared up to' doormen when he was refused entry to a shop has been fined for public order offences. Father-of-five Bobocel Stanescu (31) was arrested after gardaí found him threatening security at a Spar in Dublin city centre. Judge Michele Finan fined him €100 when he appeared before Dublin District Court. Stanescu, from Romania and with an address at Killarney Court, Killarney Street, Buckingham Street, Dublin 1 pleaded guilty to threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, public intoxication and failing to give gardaí his details. The court heard gardaí on patrol at O'Connell Street Upper on December 8 saw the accused outside Spar. He was swaying, could not stand properly and was refused entry. Stanescu began shouting at security staff, brandished an umbrella, threatened and 'squared up to' them, the court was told. The gardaí stopped him and found him highly intoxicated. He was arrested. Stanescu had very little recollection of what happened on the night, his solicitor Tracy Horan said. Judge Finan said it 'wasn't very pleasant for the gardaí' who conducted themselves with the 'utmost professionalism'. Stock image: Getty News in 90 Seconds - June 18th
