A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Senior garda has 'strong belief' father of three is IRA member
A senior Garda witness has given evidence to the Special Criminal Court that it is his “strong belief” a father of three on trial is a member of the IRA. Chief Supt Patrick McGee said he believes Barry O’Brien (38), of Mountainview Court, Dundalk, Co Louth, is an IRA member on the basis of “confidential information” available to him.
Under cross-examination by Mr O’Brien’s defence counsel, Deirdre Murphy, Supt McGee said he was claiming privilege on the information he held, and said it consisted of lay and Garda information. He said he had no difficulty making a statement in 2008 for the purposes of the trial. He knew Mr O’Brien for many years on a personal basis. Mr O’Brien has pleaded not guilty to IRA membership on April 6th, 2004.
Two new insurance firms for solicitors
The Law Society has signed agreements with two new insurance companies to provide professional indemnity insurance for solicitors, writes Carol Coulter, Legal Affairs Editor.
This follows the decision of four companies not to renew cover from December 1st, 2010, when the annual renewal falls due.
Solicitors may not practise without the insurance. In a letter to solicitors, Law Society president John Costello said: "The Law Society recognises the concern in the profession arising from the fact that a great many firms still do not have professional indemnity insurance in place for the new insurance year beginning on 1st December, 2010.
"Although the issuing of quotes does not appear to be running as late this year . . . and insurer responsiveness, in speed terms, appears to have improved, it is clearly unsatisfactory that the renewal process has not yet been successfully completed for so many firms."
Three-year sentence for tourist attack
A young man has received a three-year sentence with one suspended for a random attack on a woman walking home alone in Dublin in the early hours of the morning.
Akhilesh Aukhaj (24) with an address at Drury Hall, Stephens Street, was convicted of the assault by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury after a seven-day trial.
He had pleaded not guilty to assaulting Silvia Roncatti, a French national, and causing her harm at Sandford Road, Ranelagh, in the early hours of April 21st, 2008.
Garda Conor McHaughey said Aukhaj, from Mauritius whose family had paid his way to Ireland to do a business management course, later claimed he had been pushed and assaulted as he tried to pass her in the street but that he had been drinking and could not remember everything.
Ms Roncatti had reported that an Asian man of slight build pushed her into bushes and put his hands around her neck as she walked to the house she had been staying in that night.