Latest news with #Garda
BreakingNews.ie
2 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Gardaí appeal for information on anniversary of the murder of Linda Evans Christian
Gardaí have renewed their appeal for information on the eighth anniversary of the murder of Linda Evans Christian. On Saturday, 1st July 2017, her family reported her missing, and on Monday, 17th July 2017, her body was discovered at Coolmine Woods, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. Advertisement Despite an extensive Garda investigation and a number of enquiries followed, including the arrest of a male in 2018, no one has been brought to justice for Linda's murder. Gardaí and Linda's family are appealing for people to come forward to assist with the investigation. An Garda Síochána would encourage anyone with any information regarding Linda's disappearance and murder, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to make contact with the investigation team. Particularly, any person who may have information on Linda's movements around Coolmine Woods at the time of her disappearance is asked to contact gardaí. With the passage of time, people may now feel more comfortable sharing information with Gardaí. An Garda Síochána would like to assure the public that they will treat anyone assisting the investigation in a sensitive manner. Anyone with information in relation to this incident is asked to contact Blanchardstown Garda Station 01 666 7000, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
Irish Examiner
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Two deputy garda bosses battle for top job
The Garda's two deputy commissioners will fight it out next week in the final round of interviews to see who will be the next commissioner. The Irish Examiner understands there is also one or possibly two external candidates, though their identities are not known outside a very small circle. The four-person interview panel is made up of a member of the recently created Garda Board, two senior civil servants — one from the Department of Justice — and an external policing expert, believed to be a retired British chief constable. The panel will make its recommendation to justice minister Jim O'Callaghan, who will bring it to Cabinet by the end of the month. The minister has previously indicated that the person would take charge on September 1. Commissioner Drew Harris had been expected to retire in June but was asked by the Government to stay on until then. The final round next week is the last stage of a process that included an initial interview, an online questionnaire, a presentation at an assessment centre, followed by another interview. Shawna Coxon, Deputy Commissioner Operations, and Justin Kelly, Deputy Commissioner Security, Strategy and Governance, are through to the final round next week. It is believed that one external candidate is also taking part in the last round, with some suggestions that a second external candidate may also be through. Garda sources have previously expressed a strong preference against an external candidate again (Drew Harris came from the PSNI), citing the effect it would have internally, particularly among senior ranks. One senior source said: 'It depends on your perspective, really, as to who should get the job. From the Government's, they might think they've gone from a difficult period, of being mauled by controversies and scandals in the media and tribunals, to a honeymoon under Drew Harris – at least in terms of no major scandals. So that might mean they might go again for an outside candidate. 'But, internally the mood is very bad. It's rarely been as bad as it has in recent years. People are fed up, for all sorts of reasons, but they all want the job to go internally, to a garda.'
Irish Times
11 hours ago
- Irish Times
Landowner tipped over ESB tractor with driver inside to stop tree trimming, court told
A landowner, who has allegedly prevented ESB contractors from cutting down trees that could cause power cuts, overturned a tractor while its driver was inside, it was claimed in the High Court. Tom O'Shea, of Stellrose, Wheelam, Milltown, Newbridge, Co Kildare, had interfered with efforts to trim trees on land he owns in 2009. He was ultimately brought before the High Court for breaching undertakings not to do so. On May 6th this year, the ESB attended lands he owns, over which the Cushaling-Newbridge 110kV overhead lines run, to start work on cutting back growth. It was taking this action under a statutory power it has to access lands with such lines. Mr O'Shea had been notified . In a sworn statement for court, Stephen Mortimer, high voltage and cables central region project leader, said Mr O'Shea arrived later that morning and told them to leave. He said if they were not out in an hour, 'I will pull down the line', Mr Mortimer said. READ MORE He headed back in the direction of his farmyard, returned and then got into his own tracked digger. He used the digger to tip over the tractor with the driver inside, he said. Attempts to disable Mr O'Shea's digger failed when he fought back, and two injured parties backed off, Mr Mortimer said. Mr O'Shea then locked his digger and walked back towards his home. Gardaí were called and they later arrested Mr O'Shea, whose licensed firearm was seized by the Garda Armed Support Unit. The two injured parties were taken to hospital. Two further attempts were made to access the land and on the last one, on June 18th, it emerged Mr O'Shea had locked a gate into the field, blocking access. Mr Mortimer said an injunction was now required due to the defendant's persistent refusal to allow access. The works are required to ensure the health and safety of anybody on the lands and to ensure critical maintenance planned for this season can be carried out, he said. There are four lines on the land and there is a serious risk that the interference will lead to supply disruption to an extensive volume of customers, he said. Two 110kV lines serve the greater eastern and midland region and another 38kV line serves around 18,000 customers. There is a possibility thatcustomers could be left without power and there could be a severe impact on the national grid, he said. On Wednesday, Mr Justice Brian Cregan granted permission to serve proceedings on Mr O'Shea following a one-side-only represented application by Stephen Dodd SC, for the ESB. The judge said that given the urgency of the matter, it could come back before the court on Friday.
BreakingNews.ie
13 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Landowner tipped over ESB tractor with driver inside to stop tree trimming
A landowner, who has allegedly prevented ESB contractors from cutting down trees and other growth which could cause major blackouts, overturned a tractor using a saw with the driver inside, it was claimed in the High Court. Tom O'Shea, Stellrose, Wheelam, Milltown, Newbridge, Co Kildare, had previously, in 2009, interfered with efforts to trim trees on land he owns and ultimately was brought before the High Court for breaching undertakings not to do so. Advertisement On May 6th last, the ESB attended lands he owns, over which the Cushaling-Newbridge 110kv overhead lines run, to start work on cut back growth under a statutory power it has to access lands with such lines and after notifying Mr O'Shea. In a sworn statement for court, Stephen Mortimer, high voltage and cables central region project leader, said Mr O'Shea arrived later that morning and told them to leave. He said if they were not out in an hour, "I will pull down the line", Mr Mortimer said. He headed back in the direction of his farmyard, returned and then got into his own tracked digger and used it to tip over the tractor with the saw on its side with the driver inside, he said. Attempts to disable his digger failed when he fought back, and two injured parties backed off, Mr Mortimer said. Mr O'Shea then locked his digger and walked back towards his home. Advertisement Gardaí were called and they later arrested him with the Garda Armed Support Unit seizing his licensed firearm. The two injured parties were taken to hospital. Two further attempts were made to access the land, and on the last one, on June 18th, Mr O'Shea had locked a gate into the field, and everywhere was blocked. Mr Mortimer said an injunction was now required due to the defendant's persistent and continued refusal to allow access. The works are required to ensure the health and safety of anybody on the lands and to ensure critical maintenance planned for this season can be carried out, he said. Ireland Heir of Barne Estate 'shocked' by €50K brown envel... Read More There are four lines on the land, and there is a serious risk that the interference will lead to disruption of continuity of supply to an extensive volume of customers, he said. Advertisement Two 110kV lines serve the greater eastern and midland region, and another 38kV line which serves around 18,000 customers. There is a potential that these customers could be left without power, and there could be a severe impact on the national grid, he said. On Wednesday, Mr Justice Brian Cregan granted permission to serve proceedings on Mr O'Shea following a one side only represented application by Stephen Dodd SC, for the ESB. The judge said that, given the urgency of the matter, it could come back before the court on Friday.
BreakingNews.ie
13 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Man who posted video of ex-wife backed with 'abusive' rap has jail sentence overturned
A man who broke a safety order by posting a video of his ex-wife on Facebook with 'abusive' rap music over it has had his four-month jail sentence replaced with a suspended term on appeal. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, posted a video of four pictures on a loop, one of which showed his former wife in a swimsuit on a beach with her face distorted. Advertisement He had pleaded guilty in the District Court to breaching a safety order contrary to section 33(1) of the Domestic Violence Act 2018 on June 13th, 2024, but lodged an appeal against his sentence. Garda Noel McBrearty told the District Court Appeals Court on Wednesday that gardaí received a report from the injured party that her former husband had breached a safety order. He said that gardaí were made aware of a video posted to the man's Facebook page, which featured rap music playing over four images on a continuous loop. Garda McBrearty said that the first image was of the injured party wearing a swimsuit on a beach, the second image featured the woman's new partner, the third showed a vehicle the woman had previously owned, and the fourth was another picture of the woman. Advertisement He said the injured party told him that the rap music had lyrics which were 'abusive in nature'. Garda McBrearty said that all of the images had digitally distorted facial features, but the injured party was able to identify herself in the pictures. Defence counsel for the man, Chloe Geraghty BL, said that her client recognised the 'stupidity' in posting the video on a public platform, although the woman was blocked from his page at the time. She said that the man had a very difficult time accepting the relationship was over, but has now moved on. Advertisement Judge Christopher Callan told the defendant that he breached the safety order less than a month after it was issued, adding that he was not sure the man understood what he was obliged to do under the order. Ireland Landlord Marc Godart seeks court go-ahead to take... Read More The appellant told the judge that he now understands and apologised for his actions, adding that he will not do it again. Judge Callan told the man that he was 'running out of road rapidly' but decided to suspend the sentence of four months for the period of 12 months on the condition that he keeps the peace and abides with the directions of the safety order to not to contact the injured party by any means. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Women's Aid (24-hour freephone helpline at 1800-341 900, email helpline@ or Men's Aid Ireland (confidential helpline at 01-554 3811, email hello@ for support and information. Safe Ireland also offers a number of local services and helplines at In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.
