A round-up of other court news in brief
Man charged over killing at party last year
A man charged with manslaughter will appear at Waterford Circuit Court on Tuesday next.
Martin Sonny Smith (31), Closegate, Waterford, appeared at the District Court in the city yesterday in connection with the death of Michael Corbett (51), Barrack Street, at a party on May 31st last. Originally from Northern Ireland, Mr Corbett died in hospital after he sustained injuries in an alleged assault at his rented apartment at Barrack Street.
Mr Smith is currently in custody in relation to other matters.
Legal argument at murder trial
There was a second day of legal argument yesterday at the trial of a Dublin man accused of murder.
Brian Rattigan (28), Cooley Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Declan Gavin (21), Mourne Road, Drimnagh, at Crumlin Road, Crumlin, on August 25th, 2001.
The prosecution says that Mr Rattigan got out of a Nissan Micra that pulled up outside the Abrakebabra outlet at Crumlin Shopping Centre before he stabbed Mr Gavin in a “targeted attack”.
The trial is expected to resume tomorrow.
Damages of €2.8 for brain injury
A then-teenage boy who suffered severe brain damage and is wheelchair-bound after being struck by a lorry while crossing a busy main road following a school trip has secured €2.8 million to settle his High Court action.
The settlement was made in favour of Joseph Marnane (20), suing though his father Michael, Currana, Golden, Co Tipperary, against lorry driver Patrick Walsh, Loughryan, Grange, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, and against the owners of the private bus on which Joseph had been travelling – Matthew Kavanagh and Sons Limited of Limerick Road, Tipperary.
The settlement was without admission of liability.
David Kennedy SC, for Joseph, said his client had been almost 14 on March 1st, 2002. He was dropped off by the bus at Barnlough, Bansha, Co Tipperary, and suffered severe brain damage when hit by a passing lorry.
Mr Kennedy said the evidence would have been that Joseph had not looked before crossing the road. There was clear evidence he ran straight out in front of the truck without looking.
In a statement of claim, it was alleged that Joseph was allowed to get off the bus before it had stopped.
The judge approved the offer after Mr Kennedy said Joseph’s parents were very happy with the settlement.
Water damage of €21,000 caused
Two boys aged 14 and 15 who caused nearly €21,000 of water damage to a house when they broke stopcocks so the water could not be turned off have been released on bail by Tallaght Court.
As part of bail the boys, who are neighbours, must stay away from each other and observe a curfew from 8pm to 8am. Judge James McDonnell said before he considers jurisdiction he must hear evidence from the principals of the boys’ schools about their maturity.
The boys both with addresses in Tallaght, are charged with committing criminal damage as trespassers and with causing €20,997.50 of water damage, both at an address in Tallaght on July 14th, 2008.
Det Garda David Jennings said a file had been sent to the DPP on the matter.
Judge McDonnell remanded the case for two weeks.