A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Man pleads guilty to killing his brother
A Portuguese man has pleaded guilty at Galway Circuit Criminal Court to the manslaughter of his younger brother in Portumna last year.
Laurentino da Silva (46), a machine operator, Dominick Street, Portumna, has pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Fernando da Silva (44) on February 3rd last year.
Judge Raymond Groarke remanded Da Silva on continuing bail to the Circuit Court for sentencing on July 13th and he directed the preparation of a probation report on the accused.
Woman on trial over crash death
A woman has gone on trial for dangerous driving causing the death of the passenger in her car after they had been on a night out in Killarney, Co Kerry, almost three years ago.
Tralee Circuit Court heard yesterday how the car was being pursued by a Garda patrol car with its sirens and warning lights on but failed to stop. Near Killarney it crossed the road and struck a tree. It was not suggested it was a high-speed chase, prosecution counsel told the jury yesterday.
Elaine Houlihan (24), Killorglin, Co Kerry, has pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Theresa Foley (23), Killorglin, at Pallis, Beaufort, on April 18th, 2006. The trial before Judge Carroll Moran continues.
Widow subjected to violent beating
An Offaly man who beat a Cork woman so violently that it left blood splatters throughout his flat has been jailed for four years by Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Bernadette Barnes (48), a widow and mother of six, from Knocknaheeny, Cork, died 10 days later in hospital from a heart attack but it was accepted this was not related to the injuries. Jean Champ (51), from Tullamore, Co Offaly, tried to tell gardaí he was in custody at the time of the assault on January 19th, 2006.
Champ, who had an address at a Dublin City Council flat in St Mary’s Terrace, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and to attempting to intentionally or recklessly cause Ms Barnes serious harm.
Man flouted planning laws
A man who unlawfully built a massive refrigerator repair centre alongside the Naas dual carriageway has had to demolish it and pay a €75,000 fine for contempt of court.
Liam Nevin’s “flouting of planning laws and intentional breach of court orders” has cost him hundreds of thousands of euros in costs for design, construction, demolition, fines and legal fees.
Judge Jacqueline Linnane told Damien Keaney, counsel for the planning authority, that Mr Nevin, Commons Road, Loughlinstown, Co Dublin, had brought the displeasure of the courts upon himself.
Man denies raping his daughter
The trial of a Kerry man charged with raping and indecently assaulting his daughter over 20 years ago has opened at the Central Criminal Court.
The 57-year-old has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and two counts of indecently assaulting his then 11-year-old daughter on January 1st, 1988.
The trial continues before Mr Justice Barry White.