News
Man accused of luring child into making porn
A man charged with six counts of sexually exploiting a child for the production of child pornography over a two-year period, was remanded in custody with consent to bail when he appeared before Galway District Court on Monday.
The mother (37) of the girl was also charged in relation to neglecting the same child and more in her care on dates between 2006 and 2011.
Detective Garda Maria Flaherty gave evidence of arresting the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, at 7.35am that morning. The defendant made no reply when charged with 45 counts under Section 246 of the Children Act 2001.
She is accused of neglecting, assaulting, abandoning, ill-treating or exposing the children at various locations in the city and county over the five-year period.
Inspector Ernie Whyte advised the court that the DPP had directed that all matters be dealt with at a higher court. He said that the State would not be opposing bail, but insisted on an independent lodgement of €5,000.
“The charges are of the most seriousness, and we believe it’s reasonable,” he said, after a request was made to accept a lower amount.
Judge Mary Fahy agreed with the State’s view, informing solicitor for the woman, Sean Acton, that he would have to apply to the High Court to have the figure reduced.
She then remanded the woman in custody, with consent to bail on her own surety of €500, and an independent surety of €5,000, the conditions of which are that she signs on at her local Garda station three times weekly, provides a mobile phone number to Gardaí, notifies them of any change of address, has no contact with witnesses, and any contact with family members is to be made through HSE officials at Tusla (Child and Family Agency), Newcastle Road.
Garda Denise Kelleher gave evidence of arresting the male defendant at his home on Sunday afternoon. His reply to all 17 charges was: “Load of rubbish, not guilty.” He was also remanded in custody, with consent to bail, on the same conditions.
On dates between 2006 and 2008, he is accused of six counts of sexually exploiting a child by inviting, inducing, or coercing her to engage in the production of child porn, contrary to Section 3(2) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998. He also faces charges of sexually assaulting the same child and another female between 2006 and 2009. Free legal aid was granted to him.
For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.
From this week’s Galway City Tribune – An extensive gorse fire in the Tonabrocky area this week – which raged for over 12 hours – at one stage threatened a number of houses in the area.
Fire Brigade resources were stretched as they battled on Wednesday evening to contain the fire which burned across several acres before being brought under control in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Fire brigade units from the city, Athenry and Carraroe fought the blaze, which at one point led to fears that residents in nearby houses would have to be evacuated.
Up to six fire tenders were involved in fighting the blaze which is thought to have started around 4 or 5pm on Wednesday – it was one of a series of gorse fires which occurred around the county over the course of the past week.
Fire Brigade personnel fought the blaze through the evening and into the early hours of the morning before eventually having it fully contained by 6am on Thursday morning.
The fire – which sent plumes of smoke several feet into the air and also across local roads – occurred at an area of commonage between Boleybeg and Tonabrocky.
Local councillor, John Connolly, has urged Galway City and County Councils to come together and launch an awareness’ campaign about the dangers of fires during extended periods of dry weather.
This is a shortened preview version of this story. To read the rest of the article, see the June 9 edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can support our journalism and buy a digital edition HERE.
From this week’s Galway City Tribune – The HSE has paid €11.85 million for the building to house its new ‘Integrated Care Hub’ in Knockncacarra – which is €1.35m over the open market value of the office block.
Confidential HSE documentation seen by the Galway City Tribune shows that Block A in Galway West Business Park – the former Aviva Insurance building – was independently valued at €10.5m.
The HSE subsequently paid €11.85m for the property.
According to the documentation, the building will cost €14.85m to fit out – however, that figure was based on construction costs in February 2022 and is expected to rise again due to inflation. Just seven months prior to that estimate, the fit-out works were costed at €10.8m.
A planning application is currently being put together for a new ‘Enhanced Primary Care Centre’ in the building, which will house Primary Care Teams as well as a unit for chronic disease management. A total of 105 staff will be based there.
When the matter was brought to the Board of the HSE nationally, they were told the purchase price was €1.3m above market value.
The other option shortlisted by the HSE was a ‘new build’ on lands at Merlin Park – this was costed at €33.1m because it would involve “considerable site upgrade works” and would much longer to deliver.
This is a shortened preview version of this story. To read the rest of the article, see the June 9 edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can support our journalism and buy a digital edition HERE.
From this week’s Galway City Tribune – Gardaí in the city are investigating two reported incidents over the weekend of indecent exposure and offensive sexual conduct – one of them at a beach in Salthill and the other in the Eyre Square area.
In the first of the incidents in Eyre Square on Friday last, a man approached a woman at around 5.30pm and exposed himself.
The woman reported the incident to the Gardaí who are carrying out an investigation into what happened.
The second incident – which is understood to be unrelated to the first one – occurred at a busy beach in Salthill on Bank Holiday Monday.
One mother who contacted the Galway City Tribune said that she saw a man ‘writhing up and down in the sand’ before putting his hand down in the front of his Bermuda shorts.
She said that about 10-minutes later, the man moved along to the next beach – which was also crowded with people – while another woman nearby, who saw the same actions, contacted the Gardai.
This is a shortened preview version of this story. To read the rest of the article, see the June 9 edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can support our journalism and buy a digital edition HERE.
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