Other stories in brief
Girl wrongly accused of shoplifting
A 13-year-old schoolgirl who was wrongly accused of shoplifting has been awarded €6,500 damages in the Circuit Civil Court for defamation of character.
Pat O'Brien, for Leanne Rice, Cloverhill Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin, said that in August 2006 she had been grabbed by a security man and marched back into a shop in the Liffey Valley shopping centre.
He said the incident occurred in full view of other shoppers. Leanne was asked to empty her shopping bag on the shopping counter in New Look retail outlet. She had produced a receipt when asked.
Mr O'Brien said he was recommending acceptance of a €6,500 settlement offer from the security company involved, Nationwide Controlled Parking Systems Ltd, Ballsbridge, Dublin.
Soldier says drink spiked
A soldier who claims he tested positive for drugs as a result of "involuntary ingestion" of cannabis allegedly put into a drink has secured leave from the High Court to challenge his proposed discharge.
Mr Justice Michael Peart yesterday also granted a temporary injunction restraining Pte Patrick Heffernan's discharge, due to come into effect today, pending the outcome of his judicial review challenge.
Pte Heffernan, Greystones, Co Wicklow, who has a long- standing record of service including overseas duty, was due to be discharged having failed a mandatory drug test.
He claims cannabis had been put into a drink , it was "involuntary ingestion" and his commanding officers failed to take this into account.
Rapist faces sentence
A man who raped a woman will be sentenced later at the Central Criminal Court. Richard Finn (20), Rockfield Drive, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to rape in July 2007.
Mr Justice Paul Carney directed that his name be added to the register of sex offenders and remanded him in custody for sentence.
Challenge to incinerator
Local residents are to appeal to the Supreme Court against the High Court's refusal to adjourn two legal challenges to the proposed €75 million development of the State's first hazardous waste incinerator at Ringaskiddy, Co Cork.
The residents had sought the adjournments pending the outcome of a legal action brought against Ireland in the European Court of Justice by the European Commission.
This action is based on the commission's formal view that Ireland has failed to transpose into Irish law an EC directive on the environmental impact assessment of public and private projects, including incinerators.