A Finglas man was stabbed a total of 17 times, a jury at the Central Criminal Court trial of the two men accused of his murder heard yesterday.
Mr Patrick Harris (30), Griffith Parade, Finglas, Dublin, and Mr Michael Norton (22), St Pappin's Green, Glasnevin, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Noel Kearney (36), Ballygall Parade, Finglas, on January 28th, 2002 in Finglas.
Opening the case for the prosecution, Mr Edward Comyn SC said: "In all there were 17 stab wounds inflicted on Noel Kearney, 10 of which were of a deep and penetrative type, mostly on the body and one particular wound across the neck," he said.
The attack, which allegedly began in Mr Kearney's house, continued outside the house. Gardaí at Finglas Garda station were initially alerted on the night in question at 10.55 by two anonymous phone calls, the jury heard.
The trial continues today before Mr Justice Henry Abbott.
Chinese man jailed for robbery
A Chinese national who robbed a McDonald's fast-food shop he once worked in because he felt he had been cheated on his tax payments, has been jailed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Rong Chu Ye (29), 21st Avenue, The Ranch, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to robbery of the premises on Kylemore Road, on January 17th, 2004.
The court heard that Chu Ye, wearing a balaclava while brandishing a replica gun and a Stanley knife, forced his way into the premises.He made the staff empty the safe of €1,814 and then demanded money from a drop safe.
He was pursued by staff members where they noted him standing at a bus stop on the Naas Road. Gardaí were called and Chu Ye was arrested there.
Sgt Burke agreed in cross-examination, by defence counsel, Mr Conor Bowman, that Chu Ye had said that he was angry with the McDonald's company after being told he could no longer work there because he did not hold a current work permit.
Judge Desmond Hogan said this was a premeditated offence and that Chu Ye had frightened the staff in the premises as they believed the gun to be real.
He sentenced Chu Ye to two years in prison and suspended the last nine months on condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
79-year-old man pleads guilty
A 79-year-old pensioner sexually abused a 12- year-old boy on six occasions in the mid 1980s, a court heard yesterday.
The evidence was heard at Limerick Circuit Court yesterday in the trial of John Wray, Newcastlewest, Co Limerick who has pleaded guilty to six counts of buggery on unknown dates between 1984 and 1986.
The charges relate to incidents which started in 1984 in Bray, Co Wicklow when Wray was living next door to the boy.
The victim who was described in court as an animal lover used to visit Wray who had a menagerie of animals at his home.
During one of these visits Wray sexually assaulted the boy. In 1985 when Wray moved to Glencree the boy went to visit him and stayed with him in his timber chalet where he told gardaí the abuse continued.
Judge Carroll Moran described the case as "difficult" and adjourned sentencing until February 1st next.
Gardai search for missing Gort man
Clare gardaí yesterday continued their search for missing Gort man, Mr Aidan O'Donoghue (27), along stretches of the River Fergus.
Mr O'Donoghue was last seen at 2.30 a.m. on Saturday after leaving a night-club in Ennis town.
Aidan is 5 feet 5 inches, of stocky build and has black hair. When last seen, he was wearing dark blue jeans and a dark blue shirt.