A round-up of today's other stories in brief
€20,000 for schoolboy who fell on glass
A schoolboy who fell on glass while playing football has been awarded more than €20,000 damages against South Dublin County Council.
Barrister Martin Dully told the Circuit Civil Court Christopher Connors had been playing with his cousin in a laneway near his halting site home in Rathfarnham, Dublin, when the accident happened in October 2009.
He told Mr Justice Matthew Deery that Christopher fell on broken glass and lacerated his left wrist and forearm.
Mr Dully said the council, which runs the site, had agreed to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board assessing damages and a figure of €20,000 damages with €1,206 expenses had been suggested.
The judge approving the offer, said while there was major scarring on Christopher’s forearm he did face a substantial issue on liability.
Newspaper settles libel case
Independent Newspapers (Ireland) Limited has apologised before the High Court to a Wicklow councillor who sued it for libel over an article published in the Irish Independent in 2002.
Councillor Tommy Cullen sued over a front-page article published on May 22nd, 2002, which related to a damages claim made by a dump owner against the council.
Mr Justice Mary Laffoy was told yesterday the case had been settled. An apology on behalf of Independent Newspapers was read but no further details of the settlement was provided.
In its apology, Independent Newspapers said the report was based on information it had then believed to be reliable. It had subsequently ascertained and now recognised there was “no foundation to these allegations and we regret that they were ever made”.
Youth remanded over stick offence
A 17-year-old boy appeared in court yesterday charged with carrying a four feet-long wooden stick which he claimed was for his own protection, writes TOM TUITE.
He was charged at the Children’s Court with possessing the stick as a weapon, in Ballymun town centre, north Dublin, on September 27th last.
The teenager also faces additional charges under the public order act and for engaging in violent behaviour at Ballymun Garda station and criminal damage to a cell window there on March 1st last.
Garda Sgt Oliver Henry told Judge Ann Ryan it was alleged that the boy, who was accompanied to his case by his mother, “was observed in possession of a wooden stick approximately three to four feet-long.
“He said he was carrying it for his own protection,” Sgt Henry added.
Judge Ryan remanded the boy on bail to appear again next month when he is to enter pleas to the charges.
DPP to rule on death of boy (4)
Gardaí are awaiting a decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) following the death of a four-year-old boy from Co Meath, an inquest heard yesterday.
The child died at Our Lady’s children’s hospital, Crumlin, just over a year ago.
Insp Declan Good of Store Street Garda station told an inquest at Dublin City Coroner’s Court yesterday that a file is with the DPP.
The boy was brought to St James’s Hospital, Dublin after collapsing at home, it is understood.
The inquest was adjourned until a date in July.