More news in brief
A 23-year-old man charged with the murder of a mother-of-two at a Limerick hotel last year has had his case sent forward for trial. Jerry McGrath, Ballywalter, Knockavilla, Co Tipperary, is charged with murdering Sylvia Roche-Kelly (33) at the Clarion Hotel, Steamboat Quay, on December 8th last.
Yesterday at Limerick District Court, Det Sgt Kevin McHugh said the Director of Public Prosecutions recommended that the case be sent forward for trial to the current sitting of the Central Criminal Court.
Judge Tom O'Donnell issued the alibi warning to the defendant, which means he must give the prosecution seven days notice of any witnesses he intends calling.
Mr McGrath, who remained silent during the hearing, was remanded in custody
Six accused get April trial
Six men accused of a string of sex offences against a young girl will stand trial on April 15th, it was announced yesterday. Judge John O'Hagan was told at Donegal Circuit Court yesterday that three weeks have been set aside for the hearing.
The men, aged between 22 and 32, deny 22 counts of sexual assault on the teenager in a number of locations around south Donegal. The offences are alleged to have happened when the girl was 12 and 13 years old in 2002 and 2003. She is now 18.
Farmer fined for cruelty
A Co Monaghan farmer was fined € 3,500 for cruelty to cattle by Judge Sean McBride at Monaghan District Court yesterday. Brian Wright (56) Killygorman, Newbliss, was charged with six counts of cruelty and one count of permitting carcasses to remain unburied on his 250 acre farm.
Sgt Joe Flynn told the court he inspected Wright's farm last week and found that the defendant had not complied with all conditions previously imposed.
It emerged that authorities visited Wright's farm in 2003 and discovered some 400-450 cattle, many of which were severely dehabilitated and had to be put down. The department assisted Wright to get his farm in order and helped him gain subsidies of €90,000 in 2006 and €40,000 in 2007. However, the 20 April 2007 inspection found 12 dead cattle.
Sports degree at Galway NUI
THE common properties of physical exercise and practical engineering will be explored in a new degree programme initiated by NUI Galway for the next academic year. The sports and
exercise engineering qualification has been developed by the university's engineering college in collaboration with the college of medicine, nursing and health sciences. Students are being sought for direct entry this September and for Central Applications Office (CAO) entry in September 2009.
Gunman being questioned
A GUNMAN who walked into a Limerick pub armed with a shotgun was being questioned by gardaí last night. The man (33) suffered a number of injuries when he was disarmed by customers at Quilty's bar in Thomondgate on Sunday.
It emerged yesterday that two women helped tackle the gunman when he entered the packed pub at 8.30pm. A five-year-old boy who was in the pub at the time was treated for shock after the incident.
A man (21) who was drinking in the pub and wearing a bullet-proof vest is believed to have been the gunman's intended target. From St Mary's Park in the city, he was seriously injured last September when he was shot near his home.