More news from the courts in brief.
Inquest told man found near road died after taking cocaine
A 19-year-old man, whose body was found at the side of the road close to his home in north Cork, died after taking cocaine, the inquest into his death heard yesterday. The body of Padraig O'Keeffe was found by a passing milk tanker driver at Moulane on the road between Rathcormac and Glenville at 5.50am on June 18th, 2007.
Mallow Coroner's Court heard yesterday that the teenager had died of a drug-related death secondary to cocaine use combined with alcohol.
Barry McCarthy told the inquest he had bought around six grammes of cocaine . On Sunday, June 17th, he and Mr O'Keeffe had been drinking during the day and evening. They were both smoking cannabis during the evening and later did lines of cocaine. He went to bed but Mr O'Keeffe went to the home of another friend where he continued drinking, smoking cannabis and taking lines of cocaine.
Dublin man in court over alleged attempted extortion of councillor
A MAN has appeared before the courts in relation to the alleged attempted extortion of a Dublin city councillor. Wesley Higgins (28), of Dundaniel Drive, Coolock, Dublin, appeared before Dublin District Court yesterday. He was charged last week with the attempted extortion.
The case relates to a photograph that was taken on a mobile phone of a man appearing to snort cocaine at a party almost two years ago. The charge against Mr Higgins relates to an allegation that he demanded money from Liam Kelly in exchange for not approaching newspapers with the picture. The photograph appeared in a Sunday newspaper.
Mr Higgins is due to enter a plea in the case in the next four to six weeks.
Mr Kelly resigned from the Fianna Fáil group on Dublin City Council following publication of the photograph, and is now an independent member of the council. He has denied he was taking drugs.
Jury discharged after failing to agree a verdict in rape case
The jury in the Central Criminal Court trial of a Waterford man accused of raping a schoolgirl over 10 years ago has been discharged after the foreman announced it was deadlocked and unable to return a verdict.
The 55-year-old accused had pleaded not guilty to charges of rape, oral rape and sexual assault of the then 11-14-year-old girl on dates unknown from January 1st, 1994, and December 31st, 1997.
Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy discharged the jury on the seventh day of the hearing after being told there was no possibility of a verdict on any of the charges.
The five men and six women had been deliberating for almost four hours and had spent one night in a hotel.
Mr Justice McCarthy granted the jurors an exemption from further service for 10 years if they wished to avail of it.
He adjourned the case to a later date when a new trial date might be set.
Couple unable to meet house repayments sort out their affairs
A couple who were unable to meet the €4,500 monthly mortgage repayments on their €1.8 million home have sorted our their affairs with their building society, a court was told yesterday.
Margaret Heneghan, counsel for First Active Building Society, which had sought to repossess the property at Abbot's Hill, Malahide, Co Dublin, told Judge Jacqueline Linnane the application could be adjourned with liberty to re-enter it.
Judge Linnane had earlier been told in the Circuit Civil Court that the home would in today's market be worth considerably less than they had paid for it. The balance on the mortgage was said to be over €1,100,000.
The court had heard there had been no monthly mortgage repayments of €4,500 made since December 2007, when a last lump payment of €26,000 had been made.
A week ago arrears of payments on the mortgage had stood at €19,000.
Woman (89) died after MRSA isolated
A woman who was admitted to a Dublin hospital when she fell down steps after Mass had developed MRSA pneumonia 10 days before she died, an inquest heard yesterday.
Mrs Evelyn Gray (89) of Crumlin Road, Dublin 12, was admitted to St James's Hospital with a broken pelvis after she fell outside Dolphin's Barn church on the morning of April 7th, 2007, Dublin City Coroner's Court heard.
After almost five weeks in hospital Mrs Gray was making a good recovery from her fracture and was able to move about with a walking frame when she was diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection and was given antibiotics.
MRSA was isolated about five days later on May 17th.
However, pathologist Dr Lai Mun Wang told the inquest that she could not conclude that the cause of death was MRSA pneumonia.
Coroner Dr Brian Farrell recorded a cause of death as hospital-acquired pneumonia and said that the fall which led to Mrs Gray's admission to hospital, and a subsequent fall on May 23rd, did not contribute to her death.
"She did have MRSA 10 days before she died but I can't say she had MRSA pneumonia at the time of death," he said.
"She was in hospital recovering from the pelvic fracture and there is always a risk of hospital-acquired infection." He recorded a narrative verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.
Workers were warned of danger
A colleague of a Monaghan pipe layer who died in a collapsed trench on a building site has said the English-based construction company had warned employees not to go into unsupported excavation trenches.
John McColgan said contractors PJ Carey gave two warnings to any employee who went into an unsupported trench before sacking them if they were caught a third time.
The Wembley-based firm has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to failing to comply with health and safety regulations at the site at Ballymun Road in December 2002.
Brendan Coulton of Emyvale, Co Monaghan died when an unsupported trench he was digging collapsed.
Mr McColgan said he, along with Mr Coulton and another colleague, had decided to extend a trench a few more metres unsupported before placing a trench box support structure into the trench.
Mr McColgan said he heard a colleague shout "Brendan get out" and saw the trench collapse on one side, burying Mr Coulton.
He could see no reason why he went into the unsupported trench. The trial continues.
Northern Bank suspect appears
A Cork financial adviser charged with 10 counts of money laundering following a Garda investigation into the Northern Bank raid has been further remanded on bail after he made his fourth court appearance yesterday.
Timothy Cunningham (59), from Woodbine Lodge, Farran, Co Cork, was remanded on continuing bail to May 28th after a request from Insp Mick Comyns.
Insp Comyns said a book of evidence has been served on Don Blayney from Passage West, Co Cork, who is charged with an ammunition offence.
He was remanded to appear on May 14th.