A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Woman died after choking on food
A pensioner died after choking on food in a Dublin pub, an inquest heard yesterday, writes PAMELA NEWENHAM
Roseleen Scala of St James Road, Walkinstown, died at St James’s Hospital on April 6th, 2010. The 79-year-old had been having a late lunch in the Submarine Bar, Crumlin Cross, with her husband Mario and daughter Antonietta on St Patrick’s Day last year when she started choking.
A customer in the bar tried to give her first aid, but was unsuccessful. She had suffered cardiac arrest by the time paramedics arrived and was transferred to the hospital, where she died nearly three weeks later.
A postmortem concluded the cause of death was brain damage caused by the choking.
The inquest at Dublin City Coroner’s Court yesterday heard Mrs Scala had suffered a deterioration in her ability to swallow in the weeks before her death. She had attended the hospital on March 2nd with the swallowing problem.
A verdict of death by misadventure was returned.
Man found not guilty over road deaths
A man who was driving an old motorbike near a north Kerry village during a charity event has been acquitted of a charge of dangerous driving causing the death of two men at the Circuit Criminal Court in Tralee.
Con Scannell (23), Dereendaff, Duagh, Co Kerry, had pleaded not guilty to the death of his pillion passenger Owen McGillicuddy (19) and the death of David Flynn (35), the driver of a motorbike at Bealkilla, Lixnaw, on June 1st, 2008.
The fatal crash took place on a minor road. A charity event had been taking place centring on the village of Finuge. The court heard the late Mr Flynn may have been doing a speed of about 135mph (217km/h) at the time and the prosecution had alleged Scannell’s motorbike had come on to his path.
The jury unanimously returned a not guilty verdict. However, it convicted Scannell on a charge of driving with excess alcohol on the occasion.
Sentencing has been adjourned to next Thursday.
Judgment reserved on sex abuse action
The High Court has reserved judgment on an action by a woman who claimed she was repeatedly sexually abused by her former Irish dancing teacher.
The woman claimed the teacher sexually assaulted and orally raped her on a number of occasions between 1982 and 1989.
The alleged offences occurred at dance classes, when she was being driven home by the man and on one occasion when she was sleeping in the teacher’s family home while there was another young girl in the bed with her, it is claimed. The man has denied the claims.
He underwent two criminal trials in relation to her allegations, which he denied, and in both cases juries were unable to reach a verdict.
After the second trial in 2007 the State decided not to pursue the matter, and in April 2007 entered a nolle prosequi.
Manslaughter trial to consider verdict
The jury in the trial of two men accused of causing fatal injuries to another man during a late-night incident in a park is expected to begin considering its verdict today.
Closing arguments have been heard at Waterford Circuit Court in the case of Martin O'Brien (21) and Kieron Deegan (20), both of The Quay, Waterford, who deny the manslaughter of Damien Organ.
Mr Organ died on April 1st last year at Waterford Regional Hospital, nine days after being hit with a hurley during an incident at the People's Park in Waterford.
The two defendants also pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting Mr Organ and his brother Liam Organ (28), causing them harm. Judge Rory MacCabe is expected to finish his charge to the jury today and deliberations on a verdict will then begin.