Latest news with #Nyhan
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Increased demand for gas in transport sector in H1
Gas demand in the first half of this year remained broadly consistent with the second half of 2024, new figures from Gas Networks Ireland show. Gas accounted for 39% of Ireland's electricity generation in the first six months of the year, compared to 33% from wind. The contribution from gas to power generation peaked at 90% and never dropped below 11% in the first half of the year, which Gas Networks Ireland said underscored its "critical" role in maintaining stability and reliability in the electricity system amid fluctuating renewable energy output. Overall gas demand fell by 9% in June compared to May and by 7% compared to June 2024, during what Met Éireann described as the fourth warmest June on record, albeit wetter and duller than average across much of the country. Gas generated 36% of the country's electricity in June, down from 40% in May and 42% in June last year. Its contribution peaked at 90% and never dropped below 14% in June, while wind accounted for 30% of electricity and ranged from less than 1% to a peak of 75%. Gas Networks Ireland said the energy system's reliance on gas during low renewable output was evident between June 9-14, when gas supplied 42% of electricity and wind supplied 23%. A similar pattern occurred from June 29-30, when gas generated 58% and never dipped below 31%, it added. Meanwhile, demand for compressed natural gas (CNG) grew by 26% on last year. Made by compressing natural gas down to less than 1% of its volume, CNG is a more environmentally friendly fuel than petrol or diesel and provides the Irish haulage industry with a cleaner alternative fuel option. Fuelling with CNG can reduce a heavy good vehicle's emissions by up to 22%, and with CNG suppliers now sourcing gas via renewable sources, BioCNG can turn a HGV into a carbon neutral vehicle, providing the Irish haulage industry with a clean alternative fuel option. But demand for gas across most sectors saw annual declines in June, with reductions in the residential (-21%), leisure/sports arenas (-17%) and retail (-14%) sectors, due to the warm weather which reduced heating needs. Gas Networks Ireland's Director of Strategy and Regulation Edwina Nyhan said that June's data again illustrates how gas consistently supports electricity generation during periods of low wind, helping to keep the system secure and balanced. "The steady growth in demand for CNG, including a 26 per cent increase in June year on year, reflects continued momentum in decarbonising the transport sector. This progress is further supported by recent developments such as the opening of a new public CNG station in Dublin and the launch of the GRAZE vehicle grant scheme, which is already generating strong interest from fleet operators," Ms Nyhan said. "At the same time, we are making important strides in supporting the build out of the biomethane industry, including the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with CycleØ to help connect new biomethane production sites to the gas network," she added.
Irish Daily Mirror
21-07-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Tears in court as married father of four jailed for rape of vulnerable farmhand
A married farmer from Co Cork has been sentenced to a total of 19 years in jail for raping another man twice, but he will serve less than ten years for just one of the offences. Thomas 'Tossy' Nyhan, 60, Crookstown, Co Cork, was sentenced to 11 and a half years, with the final year suspended, for raping the man in April 2019. Nyhan, who has four children, received a second sentence of 8 and a half years for raping the man in January 2011. The rapes occurred at a location in Limerick, the court heard. As both sentences are to run concurrent to each other, Nyhan will only serve part of the longest sentence. The sentences were backdated to June 23 last, when Nyhan first entered custody. He has no previous convictions. Nyhan had contested two counts of anal rape of the victim, but he was unanimously convicted by a jury of both rapes following an 11-day trial held at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick, last May. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring had previously lifted reporting restrictions last May, allowing Nyhan be named. The judge also directed that the victim was entitled to his anonymity and ordered that he not be identified. The victim told the trial that the rapes were so painful they were like 'barbed wire' inside him. The victim wrote in a victim impact statement that there were "not words strong enough to capture the pain" he had suffered. "He (Nyhan) raped me twice. This was not a moment of confusion. It was cold, calculated and violent – he knew what he was doing – and eight years later he did it again," the man said. "This is what he chose. This is who he is. I trusted him and told him about my trauma and vulnerabilities and he controlled, degraded and violated me in the most horrific way." The man said that Nyhan spoke about his own children during one of the rapes, which the victim described as "twisted and inhumane". He said he disclosed the second rape to his GP in 2019, because, he said, he 'could not hold the weight of his abuse any longer". Later, he told Gardaí he had also been raped by Nyhan in 2011. The man told how he continues to feel like he is being watched and feels "trapped" by feelings of being "constantly sick with anxiety". 'I am a ghost of the man I used to be. I am broken, alone. I have no one, because my barriers are always up," the man said. "He (Nyhan) is a rapist and that will follow him for the rest of his life and it should." The victim encouraged others similarly affected by sexual crimes to seek help and try and bring the perpetrators to justice: 'Please hear this – standing up and speaking out is one of the most hardest things but it is powerful and life-changing.' The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week Previously, the victim asked Ms Justice Ring to impose a sentence on Nyhan that reflected his crimes: 'Let it say this matters – we matter. Please show what I lost matters. What he did matters.' The man thanked the jury "for listening and for believing me – that has meant more to me than you will ever know". When questioned by Gardaí in May 2019, Nyhan accepted sexual activity had occurred between him and the victim, yet he denied raping him. The prosecution case was presented in court by senior counsel Fionnuala O'Sullivan and barrister Lily Buckley, who were instructed by Aoife O'Halloran, Chief State Solicitor's Office, after an investigation by Gardaí attached to the National Garda Protective Services Bureau, (NGPSB), at Henry Street Garda Station, Limerick City, which deals solely with sexual crimes. During the trial, and under cross-examination by Nyhan's barrister, senior counsel Mark Nicholas, the victim agreed that he had remained in regular contact with Nyhan following the first rape in 2011. The victim described as 'lies', unfounded claims by Nyhan that he had asked the farmer for money for sex and that he had grabbed Nyhan's 'crotch' a number of times and removed his own clothes to have sex with Nyhan. The victim told Mr Nicholas: 'I told him (Nyhan) to stop, I didn't like it.' When asked by the barrister what he was doing when he alleged that Nyhan was removing his trousers and underpants, the victim replied: 'I was just scared, I just froze.' The victim described as 'bullshit' further unfounded claims by Nyhan, put by the barrister, that the victim had been in possession of 'a knife' at the time and that Nyhan 'was afraid' he'd harm himself, and that Nyhan 'pretended to go along' with sex. The victim told the court Nyhan threw him on the bed, and 'thrust' himself into the victim telling him he 'loved' him, despite the victim's pleas of 'No'. The victim told the court Nyhan's denials were 'lies'. 'It was like barbed wire... it was like hell, like something burning you,' the victim said, breaking down in tears. Nyhan's wife, Mary Nyhan, supported her husband to court every day of his trial and throughout the criminal proceedings. Before he was being led away to prison today, members of Nyhan's family cried, roared and hugged him. DNA Swabs taken by forensic Gardaí of a stain at the scene of the 2019 rape matched Nyhan's DNA profile. The judge said Nyhan had told the victim that 'he couldn't have sex' with his wife. 'Nyhan said to the victim if he had sex with him he could go home and have sex with his wife. He then took the victim into a bedroom, took off his pants and had anal intercourse.' Commenting on Nyhan, the judge said: 'He is a man without prior criminal convictions, and to all intents and purposes lived the quiet, hard-working life of a farmer.' The judge said Nyhan, who was represented by Mark Nicholas SC, Liam Carroll BL, instructed by solicitor Sarah Ryan, had acted in a 'serious and sinister' fashion. 'It is clear that Nyhan knew that the victim had not told anyone of the 2011 rape, and thus he had the confidence to rape again in 2019, assuming that the victim would stay silent again,' the judge said. In mitigation, the judge took into consideration Nyhan's age, no previous convictions, health difficulties and that he has been a hard-working family man. If you have been affected by the contents of this article, support is available from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre at 1800 778888 or Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Sunday World
23-06-2025
- Sunday World
Farmer who twice raped man he knew for years ‘violated' victim in ‘most horrific way'
The man said that Thomas 'Tossy' Nyhan spoke of his children during the incident which he said he found to be 'twisted and inhumane'. A man who was twice raped by a man he had known for many years has stated that there are 'not words strong enough to capture the pain' he has suffered. Thomas 'Tossy' Nyhan (60) from Crookstown, Co Cork, was convicted following a trial at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Limerick last May. He had pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape of the man in January 2011 and April 2019. Nyhan is a married farmer who has four children. He has no previous convictions. The victim, whose victim impact statement was read into the record by Fionnuala O'Sullivan SC, prosecuting, said that he would try to find the right words to help Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring understand the impact the rape had on him. 'He raped me twice,' the man said 'This was not a moment of confusion. It was cold, calculated and violent – he knew what he was doing – and eight years later he did it again'. 'This is what he chose. This is who he is. I trusted him and told him about my trauma and vulnerabilities and he controlled, degraded and violated me in the most horrific way,' he continued. The man said that Nyhan spoke of his children during the incident which he said he found to be 'twisted and inhumane'. Thomas 'Tossy' Nyhan (64) News in 90 Seconds - Monday June 23 He said he disclosed the second rape to his GP, because 'I could not hold the weight of his abuse any longer'. He later told gardaí about the earlier incident of rape. The man said he feels like he is being watched. 'I am trapped,' he said, before he went on to describe feeling 'constantly sick with anxiety'. He said he is 'a ghost of the man he used to be'. 'I am broken, alone. I have no one, because my barriers are always up.' 'He is a rapist and that will follow him for the rest of his life and it should,' the man continued. He then spoke to other victims of abuse and those who feel they are silenced. 'Please hear this – standing up and speaking out is one of the most hardest things but it is powerful and lifechanging,' he said, before he encouraged those similarly affected by such crimes to seek help. The man asked Ms Justice Ring to impose a sentence that reflected the impact of rape – 'Let it say this matters – we matter. Please show what I lost matters. What he did matters.' He concluded his victim impact statement by acknowledging the people who assisted him – the gardaí, his GP, the Rape Crisis Centre, a support worker and the legal team for the prosecution. The man thanked the jury 'for listening and for believing me – that has meant more to me than you will ever know'. Ms Justice Ring told the man that it was a very important decision she has to make. She congratulated him on his victim impact statement, describing it as a 'powerful piece of work'. 'I want to think about what you said. You are carrying a burden. At this stage that burden passes to me and I have to come up with a sentence that is right for you, right for the accused and right for the community,' Ms Justice Ring said. She revoked Nyhan's bail and remanded him in custody, adjourning the imposition of sentence to July 21 next, when Ms Justice Ring said she expects she will be sitting in Limerick again. Garda Lisa O'Connor told Ms O'Sullivan that Nyhan raped the man at the victim's home after they had been out at a restaurant and had visited friends together. He told the man he had to do his exercise, to combat a circulation issue he had before he lay on the man's bed with his legs up against the wall. He then told the man, 'I have to get something before I go home' before he took down the victim's pants and attempted to rape him. He told the man to relax and later lay him down on a pillow before he raped him. Nyhan said he would pay before he placed €150 on the radiator. The victim told his GP a few days later and the GP arranged for a garda to come to the clinic the following day to take a statement of complaint from the man. He then also disclosed the rape in January 2011. He said on that occasion Nyhan told him he was unable to have sex with his wife before he pushed the man on to the bed and raped him. Nyhan was arrested in July 2020 and interviewed. He claimed that he had not had sex with the man the previous April, but acknowledged there may have been some consensual sexual activity. He denied that anything had happened in January 2011. Mark Nicholas SC, defending, said that his client still maintains his innocence and said that there was significant publicity surrounding the case following his conviction earlier this year. He said his client had worked hard as a farmer for most of his life and had provided for others through this work.
Irish Daily Mirror
23-06-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man raped twice by farmer tells court: 'I'm a ghost of the man I used to be'
A man who was twice raped by a man he had known for many years has stated that there are 'not words strong enough to capture the pain' he has suffered. Thomas 'Tossy' Nyhan (60) from Crookstown, Co Cork, was convicted following a trial at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Limerick last May. He had pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape of the man in January 2011 and April 2019. Nyhan is a married farmer who has four children. He has no previous convictions. The victim, whose victim impact statement was read into the record by Fionnuala O'Sullivan SC, prosecuting, said that he would try to find the right words to help Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring understand the impact the rape had on him. 'He raped me twice,' the man said 'This was not a moment of confusion. It was cold, calculated and violent – he knew what he was doing – and eight years later he did it again'. 'This is what he chose. This is who he is. I trusted him and told him about my trauma and vulnerabilities and he controlled, degraded and violated me in the most horrific way,' he continued. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week The man said that Nyhan spoke of his children during the incident which he said he found to be 'twisted and inhumane'. He said he disclosed the second rape to his GP, because 'I could not hold the weight of his abuse any longer'. He later told gardaí about the earlier incident of rape. The man said he feels like he is being watched. 'I am trapped,' he said, before he went on to describe feeling 'constantly sick with anxiety'. He said he is 'a ghost of the man he used to be'. "I am broken, alone. I have no one, because my barriers are always up. He is a rapist and that will follow him for the rest of his life and it should,' the man continued. He then spoke to other victims of abuse and those who feel they are silenced. 'Please hear this – standing up and speaking out is one of the most hardest things but it is powerful and lifechanging,' he said, before he encouraged those similarly affected by such crimes to seek help. The man asked Ms Justice Ring to impose a sentence that reflected the impact of rape – 'Let it say this matters – we matter. Please show what I lost matters. What he did matters.' He concluded his victim impact statement by acknowledging the people who assisted him – the gardaí, his GP, the Rape Crisis Centre, a support worker and the legal team for the prosecution. The man thanked the jury 'for listening and for believing me – that has meant more to me than you will ever know'. Ms Justice Ring told the man that it was a very important decision she has to make. She congratulated him on his victim impact statement, describing it as a 'powerful piece of work'. 'I want to think about what you said. You are carrying a burden. At this stage that burden passes to me and I have to come up with a sentence that is right for you, right for the accused and right for the community,' Ms Justice Ring said. She revoked Nyhan's bail and remanded him in custody, adjourning the imposition of sentence to July 21 next, when Ms Justice Ring said she expects she will be sitting in Limerick again.
RTÉ News
20-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Gas produced 42% of the country's power in April
New figures show that overall gas demand fell by 12% in April compared to March, but gas continued to play a central role in electricity generation and produced 42% of the country's power. Gas Networks Ireland's latest gas demand statement shows that despite the overall drop in demand, the contribution from gas to electricity generation increased from 39% in March to 42% in April. Wind energy generated 28% of electricity during the month. Gas Networks Ireland noted that April was warm and sunny with record breaking daily temperatures, which contributed to a fall in gas demand across several sectors. Month-on-month gas demand declined significantly in education (down 25%), retail (down 24%), offices (down 24%) and leisure/sport (down 23%). Today's figures show that between April 7 and 10, gas produced 66% of the country's electricity - peaking at 74% and never falling below 50%. Wind contributed just 7%. Meanwhile, the demand for gas in transport increased by 76% in April compared to last year, reflecting a growing shift toward lower emission fuel sources including compressed natural gas (CNG) and renewable BioCNG. Gas Networks Ireland also published its Summer Outlook 2025 today, which has forecast a 4% decrease in total gas demand compared to summer 2024. It said this is mainly due to an expected 7% reduction in demand from electricity generation, as forecasts indicate an increase in renewable generation for the summer ahead, displacing some gas-fired power generation. Demand for gas in transport is projected to grow by 11%, with biomethane expected to meet a significant share of this demand. The outlook also shows that Ireland remains heavily dependent on gas imports from the UK, with 76% of supply expected to enter the network via the Moffat entry point in Scotland. The Corrib gas field is forecast to meet just over 23% of demand. Gas Networks Ireland's Director of Strategy and Regulation Edwina Nyhan said that while warmer weather naturally led to a seasonal drop in overall gas demand in April, gas continued to provide the consistent backup needed to keep Ireland's electricity system running reliably. "With wind generation fluctuating widely throughout the month, gas stepped in as needed to maintain stability and security of supply," she stated. She said the summer outlook forecasts similar trends, with gas continuing to play a leading role in electricity generation and in decarbonising the transport sector. "Gas remains central to our energy system - today and into the future. Gas Networks Ireland continues to support the transition to a low carbon energy system by enabling the development of renewable gas, maintaining security of supply and delivering a net zero carbon gas network," Ms Nyhan added.
