Latest news with #Rigney
Sunday World
01-06-2025
- Sunday World
Puppy farmer locked up after dogs he was ordered to give up ‘disappeared'
She said the council had not seized the dogs and had no knowledge as to their current whereabouts. A puppy farmer has been jailed for three months after three dogs, a Belgian Malinois, a Collie and a Shih Tzu he was ordered to surrender 'disappeared.' Dog Breeder PJ Rigney appeared before Tullamore District Court on Wednesday a week after he had been remanded in custody by Judge Andrew Cody for failing to surrender the animals. At the sitting, Judge Cody expressed surprise that Rigney, was present in person before the court. The judge asked Rigney's solicitor how his client had managed to secure his freedom. PJ Rigney Rigney's solicitor responded that the High Court granted his release on foot of an application by Barry White SC. Judge Cody responded: 'It is quite unusual that a person would be remanded in custody pending sentence.' Judge Cody next inquired if Rigney had complied with a previous court order which required him to sign over ownership of three dogs that were found at his property to the local authority or a rescue organisation. The solicitor said Rigney had been unable to do so as the three dogs had 'disappeared.' Judge Cody then asked 'where the three dogs had disappeared to' and whether Rigney had filed a complaint with gardai. The solicitor responded that Rigney had not alerted the gardai but had called Offaly County Council in the belief the council had seized the dogs. Solicitor Emily Mahon, acting on behalf of Offaly County Council, confirmed they had received such a call from Rigney but said the council had no knowledge of the matter. She said the council had not seized the dogs and had no knowledge as to their current whereabouts. The solicitor then requested that Mr Rigney be ordered to pay a fine of €3,600 and be disqualified for life from owning dogs. Rigney's solicitor argued that this sentence would be unduly harsh. He further claimed that the three dogs were Mr Rigney's elderly mother's pets and she had been consistently asking 'where her dogs ' were in the wake of their disappearance. Opposing a ban on keeping dogs he said Rigney lived in a rural area and needed dogs for protection and farming. He claimed that Mr Rigney was a 'man of limited means' and as a result any fine would likely 'remain unpaid. Judge Cody responded that Rigney had a 'rental property from which he derived a rental income' so this could be drawn upon to settle any court order fine. This rental was used to pay Rigney's 'significant debts' defence replied. Judge Cody sentenced Mr Rigney to three months in jail, disqualified him from keeping dogs for life and ordered him to pay a fine of €3,600 to Offaly County Council. Rigney lodged an appeal to the sentence. PJ Rigney News in 90 Seconds - June 1st In October of 2021, Rigney was served with a closure notice alleged he had been illegally running a dog-breeding establishment, housing dogs in substandard accommodation, in a yard off Circular Road, in Daingean, Offaly. According to a closure order published by the Council on October 1st that year Mr Rigney was not registered to run such a facility. Outlining the grounds on which he considered Mr Rigney's operation "poses a serious and immediate threat to animal welfare", Offaly County Council Veterinary Inspector Aidan Grant wrote: "The premises in which the dogs are kept and management of same are far below required of a registered dog-breeding establishment.' Mr. Rigney was subsequently convicted and fined in the District Court. He subsequently appealed that order but the order was upheld.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Alabaster Police Chief Curtis Rigney retires
ALABASTER, Ala. (WIAT) — Alabaster Police Chief Curtis Rigney is retiring following a 12-year run leading the department and 34 years total with the city. Rigney, who started with the department as a patrol officer in 1991, served his last day as chief Thursday, where he was honored at City Hall for his contributions to the city. 'Chief Rigney, thank you for leading and growing our department over the years while serving and protecting the Alabaster community,' a post on the city of Alabaster's Facebook page read. 'We'll miss you, and we hope you enjoy your retirement!' The search is underway for a new chief. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Sunday World
24-05-2025
- Sunday World
Puppy farmer jailed for failure to surrender dogs two years after business shut down
Offaly dog breeder PJ Rigney will be kept in Cloverhill Prison until Wednesday of next week A puppy farmer has been remanded in prison for failing to surrender dogs found on properties linked to him more than two years after his dog breeding establishment was served with a closure order. Offaly dog breeder PJ Rigney will be kept in Cloverhill Prison until Wednesday of next week after Judge Andrew Cody heard he registered three dogs to his elderly mother – instead of handing them over to a registered animal charity or Offaly County Council for rehoming. Addressing the court by video-link from prison, Rigney who was initially remanded in custody on Monday last told Judge Cody the dogs were no longer on his property and had been reregistered to another party through the Fido dog register. Judge Cody responded Rigney was not going to be allowed 'to play ducks and drakes in his courtroom.' He told Rigney he could 'duck and dive' all he liked before saying he had been ordered to surrender the animals to the council or a registered animal charity for rehoming. 'I don't care whether they are on his property or on the planet Mars,' he continued. 'Those dogs are to be rehomed as set out in the court order a week ago!' He further cautioned Rigney that he is not going to finalise sentencing in the case until the court order has been complied with before adjourning the matter to Wednesday next. The background to the case relates to a closure order handed down to Rigney. In October of 2021, Rigney was served with a closure notice alleged he had been illegally running a dog-breeding establishment, housing dogs in substandard accommodation, in a yard off Circular Road, in Daingean, Offaly. PJ Rigney outside Tullamore Court News in 90 Seconds - May 24th 2025 According to a closure order published by the Council on October 1st that year Mr Rigney was not registered to run such a facility. Outlining the grounds on which he considered Mr Rigney's operation "poses a serious and immediate threat to animal welfare", Offaly County Council Veterinary Inspector Aidan Grant wrote: "The premises in which the dogs are kept and management of same are far below required of a registered dog-breeding establishment.' Mr. Rigney was subsequently convicted and fined in the District Court. He subsequently appealed that order but the order was upheld. On February 22nd 2024, a follow up inspection of Rigney's property at Circular Road, Daingean and lands at Little Island revealed the presence of 19 dogs. As a result, Rigney was issued with an Animal Welfare notice. Rigney was issued with a summons to appear in court for failure to comply with this notice on November 11th of last year. Addressing the court on behalf of Offaly County Council, barrister James Nurney BL acknowledged that a number of the dogs had been rehomed. He said it appears in essence that three dogs remain on the premises that have been transferred to the ownership of Brigid Rigney. The dogs include a Belgian Malinois, a Collie and a Shih Tzu. Ms. Brigid Rigney is the mother of PJ Rigney. The case will resume on Wednesday next.
Irish Independent
11-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
‘Since January 20, the world has changed' – Distilleries pause production as uncertainty grows amid US tariff tensions
Pat Rigney, who co-founded Drumshanbo Gin-producer The Shed Distillery alongside his wife, Denise, said many of the country's distilleries were going through a tough time with most distilleries temporarily halting production. Pauses were happening across the industry, he added, hitting large and small distilleries alike. 'I think since January 20, the world has changed with the new US administration,' he said. 'That was then but now we are in a different world, a very uncertain world. 'I'm not sure if you are aware, but the vast majority of distilling in Ireland has paused at the moment due to the challenges.' Rigney, who chairs the industry group Drinks Ireland, added that The Shed had not stopped production. On the pauses, Rigney noted there would be downstream effects for others, highlighting that Irish grain growers, pallet manufacturers, and trucking firms could take a hit. While Rigney said he can't answer on behalf of the distilleries pausing production, he believes uncertainty caused by US tariffs brought these actions forward. He also noted 'heightened levels of competition' from other categories, like tequila and cognac, playing a role. Irish alcohol producers are currently subject to a 10pc levy on sales in the US, its largest export market. However, this is due to increase to 20pc should EU and US negotiators fail to strike a trade deal. Last week the European Commission re-tabled proposals to hit US bourbon whiskey sold to EU states with tariffs. Such a move could spark a furious response from Trump leading to greater levies for Irish alcohol firms selling to America. Woes in the whiskey sector have even led to insolvencies. Rigney called for the Government not to take the industry for granted. Several prominent Irish distilleries have reportedly paused or cut back production in recent months. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more In March, Jameson-producer Irish Distillers said it was pausing production at Midleton Distillery in Co Cork from April until summer. The country's largest whiskey business said it was 'adjusting its production schedule for a routine, periodic review'. Bushmills had also reduced production saying it was aligning its 'whiskey stocks with anticipated demand trends.' Last November, Waterford Whiskey entered receivership after failing to raise fresh funding. The receivership was extended in March due to it being a 'challenging' time to find a buyer. In February, Blackwater Distillery entered the Small Company Administrative Rescue Process (Scarp), a rescue mechanism for smaller Irish businesses. A rescue plan was approved last month following a meeting of the company's creditors. The Shed boss Rigney was speaking after the business behind his distillery, PJ Rigney Distillery & International Brands, released results for the year ended September 30, 2024. Profit fell to €2.43m, down almost €870,300. Rigney said this was due to increased investment and heightened costs, which had not been passed on to consumers. The business had sales of over €17.27m and depletions – a measure of the number of cases sold to retailers by a distributor – had increased, he added.
RTÉ News
21-04-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
US tariffs still hurting EU exporters despite pause on 20% rate
EU-based companies selling into the United States breathed a collective sigh of relief when the White House announced a 90-day delay on the implementation of a 20% tariff on imports coming from the single market. The two sides are now in the midst of trying to hammer out a deal to avoid a high-tariff trading future. However, despite the reprieve, since 2 April the majority of EU goods sold into the US are still subject to a new baseline tariff of 10%. While it's not 20%, it's still a big jump and the increase will have to be factored in somewhere along the supply chain. In an Irish context, food and drink suppliers are worst hit, given they account for the vast majority of the near €2 billion in Irish food and drink sold into the US each year. For example, an American company buying from an Irish supplier can choose to absorb the full cost of the 10% tariff, but realistically this is not the most likely outcome. Other options include passing the price rise onto the customer or getting the supplier on the Irish side to pay some of the higher tariff. Some Irish companies - fearing a loss of sales - have already offered to cover some of the increase for their US customers. One of them is the Shed Distillery, which exports more than a third of the spirits it produces across the Atlantic. Shed Founder Pat Rigney said his company is able to absorb some of the impact but can't fully cover it. As a result, Mr Rigney said he accepts the price of his gin, whiskey, and vodka will have to rise in the US and that will likely lead to lower sales. He also said diversifying into newer markets is an option but that "will only take you so far". Surge in US exports suggests Irish brands are stockpiling Another strategy for Irish exporters is frontloading deliveries, and figures from the Central Statistics Office this week suggest many are going down this path. Exports from Ireland to the US surged by 210% in February when compared with the same month last year. This was a pre-emptive move by Irish companies to get as much stock into America before the new tariffs kicked in. Kerrygold owner Ornua did this but said the company became a victim of its own success, because most of the Kerrygold cheese and butter it attempted to stockpile stateside quickly sold. Interestingly, the dairy group said the 10% tariff has not affected sales "as yet". But at nearly $10 for a pound of butter Kerrygold is a premium brand in America, so any sort of economic decline amid the uncertainty could quickly hit sales. Another Irish food brand with a strong US presence is Keogh's Crisps, and Managing Director Tom Keogh is trying to put a positive spin on the situation. He points out that - tariffs aside - there has been significant food-price inflation in America in recent times that has made products a lot more expensive, and that Irish products sold there are instantly more competitive when compared with domestic US goods. Mr Keogh adds that he believes this will lessen the impact of tariffs on Irish exports. Although - as with Kerrygold - much of the Irish produce sold in America is priced at a premium, leaving it especially vulnerable in the event of the buying power of US consumers falling. No guarantee 20% tariff will be avoided The reality of the economic threat still facing Irish businesses shouldn't be underplayed. On 9 April business group Ibec said some of its member companies in the sectors most impacted by US tariffs have already had orders cancelled or reduced. While the unpredictability of Donald Trump's administration and its breakneck-speed policy shifts have shown there's no guarantee the 20% tariff will ultimately be avoided. And if it's not, firms here could be in tricky spot. Research this week from professional accountancy body ACCA suggests that 72% of Irish businesses had not taken steps to mitigate the potential impact of American trade tariffs. The survey was conducted before US President Donald Trump's 90-day tariff pause, but its findings are still reflective of the state of play. The Brexit experience However, one factor in Ireland's favour is experience; major economic disruption due to the actions of a key trading partner is nothing new to the country. We've been here before with Brexit, and solutions such as additional Government support and guidance in seeking out new markets worked effectively then. Irish companies had to quickly adapt and become more agile to compete in different international markets - and they did so effectively. It mightn't come to that this time around with America but if it does there's a playbook ready to go. Ever since Brexit, the EU has increasingly solidified its position as Ireland's largest trading partner, with our dependency on the UK declining. Well over a third of Ireland's €224 billion goods exported last year went to EU countries (up 9% year-on-year to €88.5 billion). Exports to Great Britain stood at €15.7 billion (a 10% fall on 2023). Though for 2024 - outside of the EU - America was the destination of the most Irish exports (€72.6 billion). That figure represented a jump of €18.6 billion on 2023. It's clear from the figures that diversifying away from the US and into other markets would be a drastic option and trickier than our experience with the British market. But with the likes of Irish dairy and whiskey proving popular premium products among Americans, sales could prove resilient despite a tariff-related price hike of 10% ... or even 20%.
