Continuing our look back at the stories we brought you in 2020, here’s the news from October…
• The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) with the assistance of local Gardaí and the Garda Southern Region Armed Support Unit (ASU) conducted a search operation in Listowel in early October and seized cash, suspected drugs and jewellery.
The search operation was conducted targeting the assets and activities of an Organised Criminal Group based in Listowel, involved in the sale and supply of controlled drugs.
• A Kerry County Councillor called for a ‘pop-up’ COVID-19 testing centre in the Listowel area to respond to the demand for testing.
Sinn Féin Cllr Tom Barry called for action as it was revealed the Listowel electoral area had one of the highest incidences of the virus on the western seaboard.
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• Funding totalling €8,952,142 for the Institute of Technology in Tralee was approved under the Human Capital Initiative. The application which was approved for funding is for Rethinking Engineering Education in Ireland (REEdI). It involves collaboration between IT Tralee, UL and CIT.
• The GAA’s Management Committee decided to suspend all GAA Club games at all levels.
The decision was taken in the interest of public safety following a number of incidents that have been brought to their attention, in particular, post-match celebrations and a lack of social distancing at certain events have proved disappointing and problematic.
• An Garda Síochána confirmed two Superintendent appointments in the Kerry Garda Division.
In a promotion, Superintendent Paul Kennedy was appointed to Listowel Garda District. He took over from Superintendent Fearghal Pattwell who was transferred to the Tralee Garda District. Superintendent Pattwell replaces Supt Dan Keane who retired earlier this year.
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• It was announced that the next phase of the multi-million-euro investment in the upgrading of Tralee town centre was to commence in November.
€3.4m is to be invested in a major upgrade and enhancement of Russell Street and Bridge Street which will see a continuation of the shared space and new public realm at the Mall.
• Tralee was placed 15th in the first Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey since the Covid-19 crisis, while Killarney was in 3rd spot in the ranking of 40 towns and cities nationwide.
Tralee was considered ‘Clean To European Norms’ in the survey, but it was a drop from their 6th place ranking in the January survey when it was considered ‘Cleaner Than European Norms’.
• Fashion Retailer Pamela Scott is to close its Tralee branch at Abbeycourt. They have announced the closure of 12 of its 24 stores, resulting in the possible loss of 104 jobs. The company cited changes in retail trading, largely as a result of Covid-19, are reasons for the closures.
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• Gardaí arrested and charged a man in relation to the seizure of €85,000 of suspected methedrone in Tralee, as part of an ongoing operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs in the county.
Gardaí from the Divisional Drugs Unit, assisted by the Tralee Community Policing Unit and the Listowel Detective Unit, executed a search warrant at a premises on Mary Street, Tralee. During the course of the search Gardaí discovered two containers with €85,000 of suspected methedrone hidden inside a wardrobe.
• The Tralee Chamber Alliance Chief Executive expressed his anger at some multi-national retailers in Tralee who were continuing to trade under Level 5 Restrictions imposed in mid-October.
Ken Tobin said there was frustration amongst local retailers and other concerned business owners in Kerry, as day one of the Level 5 restrictions saw some international multiples continue to keep their doors open.
Mr Tobin claimed some businesses in Tralee and Kerry were using loopholes to by-pass the rules applied in order to continue to trade.
• Gardai in Tralee are asking the public to be aware of a blackmail/extortion scam they had reported to them. An anonymous female contacted a male on Facebook and sent him a sexually explicit video and photos purporting them to be of herself.
She requested the man to do the same and when he reciprocated, she then made a demand for a substantial amount of cash or she would send the images to his family and friends.
• As of October 31, the official number of COVID-19 cases in Kerry since the start of the pandemic stood at 1,063 (an increase of 673 on the previous month).