A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Trial of priest on rape charges postponed due to his ill-health
The trial of an 82-year-old priest charged with raping a 15-year-old boy on two separate occasions in the west of Ireland more than 40 years ago has been deferred due to his ill-health, writes Ann Healy.
Defence counsel Francis Comerford told Galway Circuit Criminal Court yesterday that the priest was in hospital and his trial was not in a position to proceed at this time.
The priest, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was extradited from the United States earlier this year.
He faces two charges of sexually assaulting the boy at separate locations in the west in 1968. Judge Raymond Groarke adjourned the matter to December 3rd, when a date will be set for the priest’s trial in the new year.
Seminars on recycling waste
Potential entrepreneurs will be offered a chance to see how waste could be reused to make new products during two events set up as part of rx3, a recycling initiative by the Department of the Environment.
“We need to rethink the way we think about waste and start to see it as a positive and lucrative resource that has the potential to create hundreds of long-term and local jobs throughout Ireland...,” said Minister John Gormley. He added that hundreds of people are already making money by remaking waste into new products which people want to buy.
The free events will take place in the Lifetime Lab in Cork city on October 21st and in NUI Galway on November 9th. Register on www.rx3.ie or on telephone (lo-call) 1890 732925.
Man pleads guilty in Louth incest case
A 21-year-old man has pleaded guilty to 12 sexual offences relating to his sister, including incest, at Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court, writes Elaine Keogh.
The offences took place on dates between 2004 and 2008 at a named location in the northeast. The offences also included unlawful carnal knowledge of his sister, sexual assault and engaging in carnal knowledge of a child under 15 years of age.
The case was adjourned until January.
Ex-Garda sergeant grew cannabis
A former Garda sergeant has pleaded guilty at Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court to cultivating cannabis in north Louth, writes Elaine Keogh.
Finbarr Hickey (51) of Muchgrange, Greenore, pleaded guilty to growing cannabis at that address on February 19th.
He was remanded on continuing bail so a report can be prepared by the Probation Service.
The case was adjourned until January by Judge Michael O’Shea.