A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Two men to be tried on arms charges
The trial of two men arrested as part of a Garda investigation into a conspiracy to import arms, including RPG rocket launchers, will go ahead next Monday after a judge yesterday adjourned the case for a week, writes Barry Roche.
Glen Geasley (27), from Innishmore Drive, Ballincollig, Co Cork, and Seán Callinan (21), from Pearse Park, Tullamore, Co Offaly, both face different but related charges following a major Garda investigation into an arms importation conspiracy last year.
Mr Geasley is charged with conspiring with others between February 22nd and April 20th to commit crime through possession of some 24 weapons that would enable any other person to endanger life contrary to common law.
Mr Callinan is charged with attempting to possess the same 24 weapons at the Hotel Ibis at Dunkettle, Glanmire, Co Cork, on April 20th last in such a situation as would give rise to a reasonable inference that this would not be for a lawful purpose.
Both are due to appear at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on February 11th when a jury will be sworn in before Judge Patrick Moran, who yesterday apologised to 100 people who had been summonsed for jury service after it emerged that the trial could not go ahead.
Damages for girl in wedding crash
A schoolgirl who was injured in a crash involving a wedding car that did not have seat belts has been awarded damages in the Circuit Civil Court.
Jade O'Connor of Clonshaugh Avenue, Artane, Dublin, was 10 when the crash happened in August 2004. Her counsel, Joe O'Loughlin, said she suffered whiplash injuries when the 1980 limo crashed into a car in front of it.
She had sued Liam Kelly Wedding Cars, Sharavogue, Kilmacanogue, Co Wicklow.
Mr O'Loughlin told Circuit Court president Justice Matthew Deery that the company had made a settlement offer of €6,500 to Jade and he was recommending the court approve it.
He said Jade had been a back-seat passenger in the car with her mother, Adele, when the accident occurred. She had suffered injuries to her neck and shoulders.
Case put back after victim's death
The case of two brothers charged with assault causing serious harm has been put back because the assaulted man has since died of his injuries.
Daniel (36) and Jason Byrne (30) of the Borness, Mountmellick, Co Laois, had been originally charged under Section 4 of the Non-fatal Offences Against the Person Act following an assault on Eddie Dempsey at Hammer Lane, Mountmellick, on December 18th, 2006.
Insp Tom Mooney of Portlaoise Garda station yesterday requested an adjournment on the basis that Mr Dempsey, of Moneyquid, Tullamore, Co Offaly, had since died of his injuries. He said the file had been resubmitted to the DPP on that basis and he was awaiting instructions.
Sandra Mahon, for the brothers, had objected to any further delay, saying that what was at issue was "a relatively simple assault case". She said her clients had last been in court in November and it was now February. Mr Dempsey died in October last year.
At Portarlington District Court Judge Gerard Haughton allowed an extension to March.