A round-up of today's other stories in brief
White to look at issue of single fathers' rights
Minister for Equality Mary White has indicated the plight of unmarried and separated fathers who have difficulty getting access to their children is to be addressed in the near future.
Speaking yesterday, she hinted the legal framework addressing this area is outdated and needs to be modernised. “I believe the time is right to take another look at the issue of single fathers’ rights. We should consider key issues such as: whether it would be appropriate to introduce compulsory joint registration of the birth of a child in Ireland; whether a non-marital father could provide his details independently to the registrar to be registered once it is confirmed that he is the father; and whether we should look at the appropriateness of introducing automatic guardianship/parental responsibility for all fathers in Ireland,” she said.
Ms White’s comments come as the Law Reform Commission prepares to publish a report, Legal Aspects of Family Relationships, within weeks.
Man dies in Waterford crash
A 79-year-old man died following a single-vehicle crash at Castlereagh, Ballymacarberry, Co Waterford yesterday.
The man, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, died after being taken to South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel. Gardaí are appealling for witnesses to contact Dungarvan station on 058-48600 or the Garda Confidential Telephone Line 1800 666 111.
Judge withdraws some abuse claims A judge in the Central Criminal Court has withdrawn some of the charges facing a Dublin man accused of raping and sexually assaulting three of his children. Mr Justice George Birmingham directed the jury to return not guilty verdicts for 16 sex abuse counts facing the 73-year-old man. The judge explained that each of those counts referred to specific dates which had not been covered in the trial’s evidence. The accused man has pleaded not guilty to the remaining 97 counts of sexually assaulting and raping two daughters, between the ages of four and 11, and sexually assaulting his son, from the age of three to six, from 1997 to 2002. The trial has reached its closing stages before Mr Justice Birmingham and a jury of eight men and four women.
Man (27) arrested over hit-and-run
Gardaí are to send a file to the DPP after last night releasing without charge a 27-year-old man arrested for questioning about a hit-and- run in which a young woman suffered serious leg injuries. The incident happened on the Carrignavar to Sixmilewater road in Co Cork at about 8.30pm on Monday when a woman (21) was knocked into a dyke by a vehicle that failed to stop. Early yesterday morning, gardaí arrested the man and brought him to Cobh Garda station for questioning while they also impounded a vehicle. The man was released without charge and gardaí will now prepare a file on the matter for the DPP.
Man in court over Derry bomb blast
A 42-year-old man will appear in court in Derry this morning in connection with an explosion at the Strand Road PSNI station in the city on August 3rd last. He faces 12 charges, including IRA membership, attempted hijacking of a car, possession of explosives, attempted kidnapping, possession of a firearm and causing an explosion. A 53-year old man also arrested remains in custody.