A round-up of today's court stories in brief
Two Derry men guilty of murder
Two men from Creggan Estate in Derry have been jailed for life for murdering a Donegal teenager two years ago. Liam Devlin (19) from Burnfoot died from brain injuries after he was attacked on August 4th, 2007.
Sean Cruickshank (21), Lislane Drive, and Edward McEleney (22), Circular Road, were found unanimously guilty of murdering Mr Devlin following a six-week trial at the Derry Crown Court.
McEleney, who admitted he “threw a kick” at Mr Devlin, was found “unanimously guilty of murder as a primary party”. The jury also brought in a verdict of “unanimously guilty of murder” against Cruickshank.
The minimum time they will spend in prison will be determined following a Crown Court hearing on December 4th.
Man faces Galway councillor trial
A man has been sent for trial at the Circuit Criminal Court in Galway on a charge of attempting to extort €5,000 from Galway county councillor Michael "Stroke" Fahy.
Patrick Walsh (68), Rahoon, Galway, appeared at Gort District Court yesterday. The court was told that the DPP had consented to the matter being sent forward for trial at the next sitting of Galway Circuit Criminal Court.
Mr Walsh faces one charge that he, "between December 23rd, 2008, and April 8th, 2009, attempted to steal cash to the value of €5,000 from Cllr Michael Fahy".
Damages action by vet struck out
A High Court action by a veterinary surgeon, whose leg was fractured after he was kicked in the leg by a heifer while helping to deliver a calf, has been struck out.
Owen Boland (56), Beechlawn, Garryvacum, Portarlington, Co Laois, had brought a damages action against dairy farmer Pat Lalor, Eyne, Portlaoise, over an incident at Mr Lalor’s farm on October 9th, 2009.
Mr Boland claimed Mr Lalor was negligent while Mr Lalor denied the claims. Mr Justice Daniel Herbert was told yesterday afternoon the case could be struck out.
Trial told of Down syndrome insult
In the murder trial about a man who died in a row after a heifer strayed into a neighbour’s land, a Garda witness has told the jury that one of the accused men told him Edward Dempsey had insulted his daughter, who has Down syndrome, prior to the assault.
Garda Darragh Rigney was giving evidence in the trial of Daniel Joseph Byrne (38) and his brother Jason Byrne (32), both of Hammer Lane, Borness, Mountmellick, Co Laois. The two men deny murdering Mr Dempsey (49), on October 11th, 2007.
The trial continues today before Mr Justice George Birmingham.