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Dundalk Leader 2nd September 2026
Family carers in Louth €1.6 million worth of cannabis invited to have their say seized in Joint Agency Task ahead of Budget 2027 FAMILY carers across Louth are being encouraged to attend a local town hall meeting to share their experiences and make their voices heard ahead of Budget 2027. Organised by Family Carers Ireland, the meeting takes place at the Fairways Hotel, Dublin Road, Dundalk, Co. Louth on Tuesday, 8th September at 11am. It forms part of a nationwide series of events giving family carers the opportunity to discuss the challenges they face and the support they need with their local TDs and senators. With Budget 2027 approaching, family carers are calling for action on the issues that affect their daily lives, including financial pressures, limited access to respite and the impact of caring on their health and wellbeing. They will also discuss future care planning and supported decisionmaking, calling for a shift away from the current crisis-driven approach towards a more proactive, planned, coordinated and person-centred system that better supports families and the people they care for. The meeting comes as Family Carers Ireland’s latest State of Caring report highlights the pressures facing people caring for loved ones at home. Among those surveyed, 71% struggle
to make ends meet, 75% have never accessed respite and almost half experience severe loneliness. Issues expected to be raised include the abolition of the Carer’s Allowance means test, an increase in weekly carer payments to €325, a higher Carer’s Support Grant and improved access to regular, appropriate respite. Louise Cosgrove, Carer Support Manager for Louth, said: “Family carers across Louth are supporting loved ones through illness, disability, and additional needs, often with very little support themselves. This town hall is a unique opportunity for elected representatives to meet family carers in their constituency and hear about the realities of caring and the changes needed to better support them and their families. “Decisions made in Budget 2027 will directly affect families in this community, many of whom are already struggling without adequate financial support or even the chance to take a break. Family carers deserve to be heard by the people elected to represent them, and we are calling on local TDs and senators to attend, listen, and stand up for the changes carers need.” Family carers can register to attend at www.familycarers.ie.
Force operation in Dundalk
ON 26th of August, 2026, as part of a joint cross border intelligence led operation involving Revenue Customs Service, the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), and Organised Crime Unit, PSNI, a total of 119 kg’s of cannabis with an estimated value of €1,666,000 was seized and a male in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking, in the Dundalk area of Co. Louth, following an interdiction of a vehicle. This male remains detained for questioning at a garda station in Co. Louth. Follow up searches were conducted in the Newtownabbey area of Northern Ireland and a further estimated 45kg’s of cannabis, ½ kg of cocaine (subject to analysis), 22 imitation firearms and approximately £25,000 cash were seized by the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Organised Crime Unit. One male in his 30s was arrested and is being detained by the PSNI.
Gardaí said 119 kg of cannabis was seized in the Dundalk area of Co Louth. The 22 imitation firearms seized in Newtownabbey in Co Antrim.
Jury Duty in Ireland: Who Gets Called and What to Expect By Darren Crawley FOR many people, receiving a letter summoning them for jury duty comes as a surprise. While some may view it as an inconvenience, jury service is one of the most important civic responsibilities in Ireland’s justice system. Every year, ordinary members of the public play a crucial role in deciding the outcome of serious criminal and civil cases, helping to ensure that justice is delivered fairly and independently. For those who have never served before, however, the process can seem unfamiliar. Who can be called? Can you refuse? Do you still get paid? And what actually happens when you arrive at court? Understanding how jury service works can help remove some of the uncertainty if that official envelope ever arrives through the letterbox. Juries are a fundamental part of Ireland’s legal system. In many serious criminal cases heard before the Circuit Criminal Court or Central Criminal Court, it is a jury—not the judge—that decides whether an accused person is guilty or not guilty. The judge’s role is to explain the law and oversee the
trial, while the jury considers the evidence presented before reaching a verdict. Jurors are selected at random from the Register of Electors. In other words, if you are registered to vote, there is a chance that you may be called for jury service. Selection is designed to ensure that juries reflect a broad cross-section of society rather than any particular profession, background or viewpoint. Receiving a jury summons does not necessarily mean you will serve on a trial. Many people attend court only to discover they are not selected after the jury selection process. Others may be excused for legal or practical reasons before a jury is finalised. Even so, anyone who receives a summons is generally required to attend unless officially excused. Not everyone is eligible to serve. Certain people are disqualified or ineligible under Irish law, while others may apply to be excused because of exceptional personal circumstances. Serious illness, essential caring responsibilities or unavoidable work commitments may be considered, but simply not wanting to attend is unlikely to be sufficient.
Employers are generally expected to allow employees to attend jury service if summoned. While there is no general legal obligation requiring employers to continue paying wages during jury service, many employers choose to do so. Anyone concerned about the financial implications should check their employer’s policy before attending court. Many first-time jurors are surprised by how much waiting can be involved. After arriving at court, prospective jurors may spend time in a jury assembly area before being called into a courtroom. Trials do not always begin immediately, and some cases resolve before a jury is even selected. If selected, jurors must listen carefully to all of the evidence
presented during the trial. They are expected to remain impartial throughout the proceedings and must decide the case solely on the evidence heard in court. Jurors must not carry out their own research, search for information online or discuss the case with anyone outside the jury room while the trial is ongoing. Confidentiality is one of the cornerstones of jury service. Deliberations within the jury room are private, and jurors are prohibited from revealing what was discussed during those deliberations after the trial has concluded. This confidentiality protects the integrity and independence of the decisionmaking process. From a local perspective, jury service is something many
people in Dundalk and across County Louth will experience at some stage in their lives. Depending on the type of case, jurors from the area may be called to attend court in Dundalk or, for more serious matters, other courts within the region. While receiving a summons may initially seem disruptive, it represents an important opportunity to participate directly in the administration of justice. Serving on a jury also provides many people with their first real insight into how Ireland’s courts operate. The experience often challenges assumptions formed through television dramas and media coverage, highlighting the careful procedures, legal safeguards and responsibilities involved in ensuring that every person receives a fair trial. Failing to attend jury service without a valid excuse can itself have consequences. Because jury service is a legal obligation rather than a voluntary activity, ignoring a summons without being officially excused may result in penalties. Anyone who believes they cannot attend should contact the relevant court as soon as possible rather than simply failing to appear. Although jury service can in-
volve time away from work and everyday routines, most people only receive a summons once or twice, if at all, during their lifetime. It is a temporary commitment that helps uphold one of the fundamental principles of Ireland’s justice system—that serious cases should be decided not by the State alone, but by ordinary citizens drawn from the community. As Dundalk continues to play its part within Ireland’s legal system, jury service remains an important reminder that justice depends not only on judges, barristers and Gardaí, but also on the willingness of ordinary people to fulfil their civic responsibilities when called upon. Ultimately, while receiving a jury summons may not be anyone’s idea of an exciting day, it represents an important opportunity to contribute to the fair administration of justice. By understanding what is involved and approaching the process with an open mind, those called for jury service can play a vital role in ensuring that Ireland’s courts continue to operate fairly, independently and with the confidence of the public.
Ancillary report funded by Coimisiún na Meán’s Courts Reporting Scheme