Rise in threats to kill and assaults causing harm in Offaly

THERE were 12 cases of threats to kill or cause serious harm in Offaly in the third quarter of this year which is up from 6 for the same period last year.

In addition the number of assaults causing harm rose to 32 for the third quarter of 2022 compared to 28 for quarter three of last year. Minor assaults were down to 48 from 51.

The figures were revealed by Superintendent Eamon Curley at a recent meeting of the Offaly Joint Policing Committee, held in Aras an Chontae.

There were 6 cases of criminal damage by fire, up 5 from last year. Meanwhile there were 108 cases of criminal damage which were not related to fire compared with 86 for the third quarter last year.

Under the heading of Drugs and Offensive Weapons, Superintendent Curley said there were no offences detected for the cultivation and manufacture of drugs in the third quarter of this year. There were 2 for the same period last year.

23 cases of possession of drugs were detected for quarter 3 of 2022 compared with 19 for the same period last year.

There was one case of being in possession of firearms which is the same as quarter 3 of last year.

There were 9 cases of being in possession of an offensive weapon, a reduction of one on last year.

Under the heading of Traffic Offences, Superintendent Curley said there was an increase of one to 14 for the number of people intoxicated while driving in the third quarter of this year.

There were no fatal traffic accidents in the third quarter of this year which remains the same as last year.

The number of non-serious injuries as a result of traffic accidents stands at 19, up 2 from last year. Serious injuries stand at 5 a reduction of 4 on last year.

Superintendent Curley introduced Inspector Diarmuid Lawlor who has been appointed to the new role of Crime Investigation for Offaly.

Inspector Lawlor spoke at the meeting about Operation Tara, a national anti-drugs operation which commenced on July 1, 2021. He said primarily the focus is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks at international, national and local level.

Inspector Lawlor said Operation Tara has been ongoing since its inception on July 1 2021.

As part of the operation Gardai in Offaly conducted an investigation into ongoing criminal activity in the county targeting those involved in the sale and supply of drugs.

He said Gardai searched 13 separate houses in Tullamore, Clara and Kilcormac. These searches resulted in the detection of 16 separate offences including 5 under the misuse of drugs act which is related to drugs for sale and supply. 9 offences for section 3 misuse of drugs and one offence of being in possession of an offensive weapon. One for possession of fireworks.

Three people were arrested and have since been charged with drug related offences including simple possessions and are due to appear before Tullamore district court in the near future, he reported.

As a result of Operation Tara, Gardai targeted the Edenderry Area which culminated in a successful intelligence led operation leading to a further search in Rhode with support from the national support services and the canine unit. This resulted in the seizure of a quantity of drugs for sale and supply.

Operation Tara is ongoing within the county and very much supported by National Support Services and our local drugs units, said Inspector Lawlor.