A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Suspended jail term for car theft
A man who stole a Mercedes Benz from a car showroom during business hours has received a two-and-a-half-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Garda Richard Heraghty revealed Dubliner John Ralph (29) and his accomplice grabbed the car’s keys after the manager left them at reception so another staff member could take the vehicle for cleaning. The car was found burnt out in Lusk.
Ralph, of Sean O’Casey Avenue, pleaded guilty to unlawfully taking possession of the Mercedes Benz from Annesley Motors in Swords on September 11th, 2008. He has 45 previous convictions for minor thefts and road traffic offences.
Marie Torrens, defending, pleaded her client was from a dysfunctional background, his brother had been murdered and he had a history of addiction. Judge Katherine Delahunt, noting Ralph was “intent on changing his life”, suspended the sentence for three years.
Addict jailed on gun and drug offences
A €500-a-day cocaine addict who confronted gardaí armed with a handgun has been jailed for a total of 10 years by Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Joseph McCarthy (23) ran into a bedroom and tried to hide the gun, later claiming he had been given it because his life was in danger.
McCarthy, Grange View Road, Clondalkin, was also sentenced on several charges of dealing drugs.
Man choked eating dinner, inquest told
A man who collapsed eating his roast beef dinner had inhaled food into his airways, a postmortem found.
Thomas Callaghan (83), Malvern, Kilcrea, Donabate, Co Dublin, suddenly became unresponsive while eating dinner at his son’s house on December 29th, 2009.
Pathologist Dr Anne-Marie O’Shea found he died from a choking episode.
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell at Dublin City Coroner’s Court recorded a narrative verdict.
Former Irish Rail worker awarded damages over back injury
A retired railway coach builder who had injured his back while fitting seats in a carriage has been awarded damages against Irish Rail.
John Fogarty (59), who spent more than 40 years in Irish Rail’s workshop at Inchicore, Dublin, also settled a hearing loss claim against the rail company for an undisclosed sum.
The keen golfer and walker, of Ballyneety Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin, brought both claims in the Circuit Civil Court. Irish Rail settled the hearing loss proceedings after a judge awarded Fogarty €15,000 in the back injury case.
Circuit Court president Mr Justice Matthew Deery said there was “a degree of negligence” by the defendant.