A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Garda inquiry on use of Egyptian crew
Gardaí and the Naval Service are investigating the employment of Egyptian crew on several Irish-registered fishing vessels working out of east coast ports, writes Lorna Siggins, Marine Correspondent.
The crewmen were discovered on two fishing vessels which were detained by the Naval Service in the Irish Sea, and escorted to port.
Under licensing regulations, at least 50 per cent of crew must be of EU nationality.
The Federation of Irish Fishermen said that the discovery was a reflection of the poor state of the Irish fishing industry at present. Skippers could not get crew now, even within the EU, because the level of earnings is so low, it said.
Gardaí find guns and ammunition
A rifle, two imitation firearms and a small quantity of heroin were among the items found by gardaí during a search of a house in Finglas, north Dublin on Wednesday evening, writes John Downes.
This led to the arrest of a 35-year-old man, who was being detained at Finglas Garda station yesterday.
Officers discovered the items, along with a ballistic vest, after they searched a house at Mellowes Crescent, Finglas on Wednesday evening.
Man threw rocks at gardaí
A Dublin man will be sentenced later for throwing rocks at gardaí during the Love Ulster parade riots in the city centre two years ago.
John O'Reilly (31), with an address in Harcourt Street, was found guilty of violent disorder on February 25th, 2006 by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A press photographer at the start of the trial had identified six photographs he had taken along with 18 images on a compact disc, which were used as exhibits in the case.
Garda John O'Sullivan told prosecuting counsel John Quirke BL he saw O'Reilly standing at the very front of the group of rioters throwing rocks.
He then saw him standing on a median strip on O'Connell Street dropping a concrete slab and later saw him throwing two or three rocks.
Jail term in guns case 'excessive'
The Court of Criminal Appeal has adjourned an appeal by a Dublin man against his 10-year sentence for possession of firearms and arson of a car but has indicated its view that part of the sentence was "excessive".
Paul McGrath (48), with addresses in Killarney Street, Dublin and at Castle Court, Killgobbin Wood, Stepaside, Co Dublin pleaded guilty last July before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a rifle and the arson of a car at Ballyowen Lane, Lucan on December 12th, 2005. He also pleaded guilty to having a pistol and ammunition at Gallops Pub in Leopardstown Valley, Dublin. He was sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison by Judge Frank O'Donnell.
Yesterday the three-judge appeal court said that, in adjourning the case, the court believed part of the total sentence imposed on McGrath was excessive and it will outline the new sentence at a later date.
Earlier, Michael O'Higgins SC, for McGrath, said the sentencing judge had not taken mitigating circumstances into account, including his client's good employment record.