A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Trader had 'near-death episode'
A market trader suffered a "near-death episode" when allegedly attacked outside his home, a heart surgeon told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.
Michael Green (23), of St Michael's Estate, Inchicore, and John Joyce (35), of Moyne Road, Baldoyle, have pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 14 charges arising out of the alleged assault.
They deny intentionally and recklessly causing serious harm to Michael Joyce at Dunsink Lane, Finglas, on August 21st, 2005, and to assault causing him harm. They also plead not guilty to five further charges each of causing criminal damage to caravans.
Dr Alfred Wood, of the Mater hospital, told Paul Carroll, prosecuting, that 70 per cent of patients would have died from the wounds Mr Joyce suffered.
He said a heart wound was "obviously a result of some type of implement that was two to two-and-a-half centimetres wide and 25 centimetres long."
Mr Joyce said early on August 21st last year he had intended to travel to a market in Offaly. He had turned on the engine of his van when "a jeep burst through my gates".
Margaret Joyce, his daughter, said she saw the two accused around her father and begged them "more than 10 times" to stop attacking him.
The trial continues.
Judgment reserved in tribunal case
The High Court has reserved judgment on a bid by Cork property developer Owen O'Callaghan to prevent the Mahon tribunal further inquiring into or making any findings on allegations made against him by developer Tom Gilmartin.
Council court action over quarry
Mayo County Council has brought a High Court action claiming that a quarry near Newport, Co Mayo, is an unauthorised development about which it has received many complaints from local residents.
The company, Geraghty Brothers Civil Engineering Ltd, has challenged an enforcement notice issued by the council in February 2005, and has also brought proceedings seeking to restrain local residents from interfering with its operations.
The proceedings opened yesterday.
Extradition case adjourned
An extradition case involving a Cork couple wanted in the US over the alleged kidnapping of their nine-year-old grandson last July was further adjourned at the High Court yesterday for two weeks.
Tim and Ethel Blake, of Lower Midleton Street, Cobh, are the grandparents of Dylan Benwell, who was returned to his mother, Serena Benwell, in Winthrop Harbor, Chicago, last November.
The couple were arrested in September 2005 at their home in Cobh after it was alleged they had committed the offence of kidnapping in that they allegedly enticed Dylan to travel to Dublin with them from his home in Chicago, Illinois.
Death of retired district judge
The death has occurred in Wexford of retired District judge Dermot Dunleavy.
Mr Dunleavy, who was aged 91, died in the Moyne nursing home, Enniscorthy, on Monday He served on the bench in the southeast for 12 years.