Deputy State Pathologist appointed

Northern Ireland's Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Michael Curtis, has been appointed Deputy State Pathologist in the Republic…

Northern Ireland's Assistant State Pathologist, Dr Michael Curtis, has been appointed Deputy State Pathologist in the Republic, writes Liam Reid.

His appointment follows the promotion of Dr Marie Cassidy to State Pathologist, following the retirement of Prof John Harbison.

In January, Dr Curtis was cleared of professional misconduct by the British General Medical Council over an adopted Romanian boy's post-mortem, which failed to spot a series of fractures on the baby's skull.

The injuries were only found when the body was exhumed after the orphan's twin, Samuel, was taken to hospital 13 days later suffering from a fractured skull.

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The twins' adoptive father, Geoffrey Briggs, from Portadown, was later jailed for causing the injury to Samuel.

Man on burglary charge refused bail

A man charged with an early-morning burglary of an occupied home was refused bail in Dublin District Court yesterday after it was alleged he tried to grab a detective's gun from his holster as he was being arrested.

Mr Alan Doyle (26), a courier, with addresses at Kippure Park, Finglas, and Charlemont Gardens, Dublin, was charged with the burglary of a house in Richmond Row and criminal damage to a window in it in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Sgt Ian Ferris objected to bail because of the seriousness of the charge which alleges he entered the house for the purposes of a burglary while it was occupied. When he was arrested shortly afterwards, he allegedly attempted to escape by assaulting two gardaí and also allegedly attempted to take a gun from one of them.

Judge John Coughlan refused bail and remanded him to appear in Kilmainham District Court on November 26th.

Remand on assault charges

A man released from prison on Monday last found himself back in jail last night after he appeared at a special court in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, on assault charges.

Kieran Hughes (21), Bree, Co Monaghan, was remanded in custody until Tuesday's sitting at Carrickmacross District Court after Judge MacBride was told the accused was involved in a very serious incident although only released from Shelton Abbey detention centre in the wake of an earlier conviction.

Limerick tribute to John Hunt

The people of Limerick paid tribute to a former freeman of the city and a well-known Irish art historian at a special memorial service last night.

The service was held in honour of the late John Hunt, the founding director of the Hunt Museum, who died aged 47 last August following a serious illness.

The museum's director, Ms Virginia Teehan, said the service - which was held at St Mary's Cathedral - was organised to acknowledge John Hunt's "enormous contribution" to civic life in the city."

Limerick's Mayor, Cllr Michael Hourigan, described Mr Hunt's efforts to bring the Hunt Collection to the city as "one of the great untold stories in modern Limerick". The service was attended by Mr Hunt's sister Trudy, his wife Patricia, and their children Miriam, Jack and Paddy.