A round-up to today's other stories in brief
New Ross swimming pool arrest
New Ross gardaí have arrested a man in connection with the ongoing investigation into allegations relating to town swimming pool.
Supt Tom Saunderson has confirmed that a man from Wexford was arrested on Tuesday last under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act and was brought in for questioning to New Ross Garda station.
"He was detained for 12 hours and a file is being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions," he said.
The man was arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into allegations relating to New Ross swimming pool.
Assault on ESB engineer
A farmer who has been campaigning for six years against the construction of ESB pylons on his land appeared in court yesterday on a charge of assaulting the ESB site engineer in charge of the project.
Boyle District Court heard that Michael Roddy (41), Grange, Boyle, Co Roscommon, had assaulted engineer Jarlath Doyle with a "cattle stick" when Mr Doyle and another ESB employee called to his home seeking access to his property on June 1st last.
Judge Oliver McGuinness adjourned the case for 12 months. He was satisfied there was no legitimate reason for two ESB personnel to be at Mr Roddy's property on the day in question. He said he did not know whether there would be High Court proceedings arising out of the ongoing dispute between the ESB and landowners.
Francis Mulligan (50), also of Grange, Boyle, was accused of using threatening or abusive behaviour in a public place but this charge was struck out.
Picket on nursing home in Kilkenny
Staff at a private nursing home in Kilkenny, which is closing with the loss of 32 jobs, picketed the premises yesterday in protest at the level of their redundancy payments.
The last elderly residents of St Joseph's nursing home in Thomastown, 16km (10 miles) from Kilkenny city, were moved to other nursing homes earlier this week.
Siptu organiser Denis Hynes said he was calling for "better severance packages" for the workers who have been offered the minimum statutory redundancy payments.
The nursing home's proprietor Seán Bay said yesterday the family-run company was closing because the facility had been losing money for two years and that alterations recommended by the Health Service Executive were impractical.
Bail on charge of child ill-treatment
A Polish woman and member of the Roma gypsy community, charged with ill-treating her three-year- old daughter, was remanded on continuing bail at Tralee District Court yesterday.
Monica Paczkowska (31), Oakpark, Tralee, is charged that in early August last year, she wilfully ill-treated a child in her care, named Sefora, in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to the child's health or seriously to affect her well being.
The charge, under section 246 of the Children Act 2001, is the first of its kind under this section.
Sefora was admitted to Kerry General Hospital suffering from head injuries on August 3rd, 2005, and she died on August 5th.
Jury in trial of retired garda discharged
The jury in the trial of a retired Garda sergeant charged with stealing two cars from an official compound has been discharged at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Donagh McDonagh told the jury that following submissions by counsel in its absence he was withdrawing the case. John Mulvihill (53), Rathmolyon, Co Meath, had pleaded not guilty to stealing a Mitsubishi Colt between May 12th and June 30th, 2002 and a Ford Transit van between December 2nd, 2002 and February 28th, 2003.
Trial of solicitor on porn charge
The trial of a 55-year-old solicitor accused of being in possession of child pornography has continued in legal argument in the absence of the jury, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Eugene Fanning (55), Ailesbury Road, Ballsbridge, denies having 27 pornographic images between January 29th, 2001 and February 27th, 2002 at his home. The jury is expected to return tomorrow when the trial is due to resume before Judge Desmond Hogan.
Man on attempted murder charge
A man appeared in Dublin District Court yesterday charged with attempted murder. Darren Larkin (22), no fixed address, was charged with attempting to murder an employee of the Leisureplex in Blanchardstown, Co Dublin, on February 20th last. He was also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. Judge Cormac Dunne remanded him in custody to appear in Cloverhill District Court on March 8th.
Eight years on cocaine charge
A former British Airways baggage handler has been jailed for eight years after he was caught with over €500,000 worth of cocaine by customs officials when they searched his luggage as he arrived in Ireland. Tony Lapido (41) with an address at Bamburg House, Tottenham, London, was caught with eight kilos of cocaine after he flew into Cork from Amsterdam on October 17th, 2005. Yesterday at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin said he was taking Lapido's guilty plea into account as he sentenced him to eight years.
Guilty plea to attack on father
A man who savagely attacked his father in an "uncontrollable rage" after consuming alcohol and cocaine will be assessed for suitability to carry out community service. Gary Lakes (27) Allenton Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Francis Lakes causing him harm at their home on March 6th, 2005.
Roof fall inquest adjourned
An inquest into the death of a man who fell from the top of an apartment block after consuming hallucinogenic magic mushrooms has been adjourned until June. Colm Hodkinson (33), The Anchorage, Clarence Street, Dún Laoghaire, fell from the roof of his apartment block on October 30th, 2005. Insp Denis Heneghan requested an adjournment as the file is still with the DPP.
Trial date set for M50 bomb suspect
The Special Criminal Court yesterday fixed a date in June for the trial of a Dublin man charged in connection with the discovery of a bomb in a car at the West-Link toll bridge last December. Martin O'Rourke (23), Sheepmore Grove, Blanchardstown, is charged with the unlawful possession of an improvised explosive device at the West-Link Toll Plaza, Castleknock, on December 8th. He was also charged with membership of the IRA on the same date. He was remanded in custody until June 27th.
PSNI treating death of baby as murder
The PSNI has confirmed that it is treating as murder the death of an infant boy found at a house in Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh last Thursday.
The baby's mother, who was arrested on Tuesday, was last night being questioned by detectives.
Police were yesterday granted an additional 36 hours to question her.
Police want anyone who visited Spruce Hill in Irvinestown between Monday and Thursday of last week to contact them so that they can be eliminated from inquiries. They are especially interested in hearing from the driver of a dark blue car, possibly a Ford.
Claim of bombs left in Armagh
The PSNI was last night investigating a claim by the Continuity IRA that it left firebombs in Armagh, Portadown and Dungannon.
A man claiming to represent the group contacted a newsroom in Belfast last night to say the incendiaries had been planted in premises in Scots Street, Dungannon, Market Street, Armagh, and Edward Street, Portadown.
Vigil to mark 1981 hunger strikes
The Wolfe Tone Society was staging a candlelight vigil at Downing Street, London, last night to mark the beginning of this year's 25th anniversary of the 1981 hunger strikes.
Ahead of today's talks between Sinn Féin leaders and British prime minister Tony Blair at Number 10, the organisers of the vigil also handed in a letter calling on Mr Blair to reinstate the Northern Ireland Assembly or else call fresh elections.
New rescue copter contract
CHC Helicopters has been named as preferred bidder to run the Irish Coast Guard search-and-rescue network from July 2007. The company, which operates the four bases at Dublin, Shannon, Waterford and Sligo, was one of three bidders for the new contract. Negotiations will now take place to finalise details of the contract, according to the Department of Transport.
Cork man was not abducted - gardaí
Gardaí in Midleton are to send a file to the DPP after a man (49) came forward to help with inquiries into a reported abduction by three masked men in east Cork on Tuesday night. A spokesman said following an interview with the man, they are satisfied that he had not been abducted.
Prison officers to ballot members
A nationwide ballot of more than 3,000 members of the Prison Officers Association to elect a new general secretary got under way yesterday. John Clinton is facing a challenge to his position from midlands prison representative, Bernard Phelan.
Stardust victims plan protest
Victims of the 1981 Stardust disaster are planning a protest outside the Taoiseach's constituency office this weekend to call for a public inquiry.
The victims claim Bertie Ahern has failed to meet them since 2002, but Mr Ahern told the Dáil yesterday he had offered to meet the families three times in the past three weeks and was ready to meet them on the week of the anniversary, but they cancelled.
Eight years on cocaine charge
A widower and father of four, who was caught with cocaine, valued at €1 million has been jailed for eight years by Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
James Marry (51), a taxi driver, Pinebridge, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of the drug for sale or supply on April 16th, 2004.