More news from the courts in brief.
Steward wins payout over solicitor's economy class attack
A High Court judge has awarded €56,000 damages to an air steward over a "savage" and "completely lunatic" assault on her by a British solicitor who had "some sort of grievance" because he had to fly in economy rather than business class.
Mr Justice Peter Charleton made the award to Thelma Rooney, Glasnevin Woods, Glasnevin, Dublin, against Ian Coutts, Paddenswick Road, Hammersmith, London.
Mr Coutts was arrested on arrival in London.
In March 1999, he was fined by Uxbridge Magistrates Court and was also ordered to do community service for the assault.
Defence seeks to withdraw Meg Walsh case from jury
The Central Criminal Court trial of a Waterford man accused of murdering his wife has entered its closing stages, as the judge hears the defence's application to withdraw the case from the jury.
Mr Justice Barry White told the jury of seven men and five women that, now the prosecution had completed their case, "the defence are entitled to apply to me to withdraw this case from your deliberations." He said that since this application would take some time and would require reviewing some of the evidence in the case, the jury would not be required until Tuesday.
Mr John O'Brien (41) with an address in Ballinakill Downs, Co Waterford, denies murdering 35-year-old Meg Walsh on a date between October 1st, 2006, and October 15th, 2006, somewhere within the State.