Some other court stories in brief.
Teen stabbed woman with screwdriver
A teenager who stabbed a woman in the back, stomach and face with a screwdriver has been given an 11-year prison sentence by Judge Frank O'Donnell at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Thomas Reilly (19), Belcamp Grove, Priorswood, Coolock, Dublin, also used an imitation gun in an attempted robbery at a building society at Northside Shopping Centre and terrified counter staff who believed it was real.
Reilly pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Carla O'Connor, Moatview Road, Priorswood; attempted robbery at the building society; theft at the National Irish Bank, Howth Road; unlawful use of a car; and no insurance and dangerous driving on dates between October 22nd, 2003 and February 12th, 2005.
Judge O'Donnell sentenced Reilly to five years for the theft at National Irish Bank and three years for each of the other crimes. He ordered that some of the sentences be served consecutively as Reilly had been on bail when he committed the assault and the subsequent theft and driving offences. He suspended the final six years of the sentence on strict conditions after taking into account Reilly's young age and his difficult background.
Six charged after crack-cocaine raid
Six men appeared in court in Dublin yesterday charged in connection with an undercover Garda operation against alleged street crack-cocaine dealers.
The six face between two and seven charges each of possession of small amounts of the drug for sale or supply in the north inner city area of Dublin between March and April last. This followed investigations into the sale of the drug to undercover officers involved in "Operation Plaza".
Dublin District Court heard they were all arrested early yesterday morning and taken to different Garda stations around the city.
Three of the six were refused bail and remanded in custody for a week following objections by gardaí under Section 2 of the Bail Act 1997.
The three were: John Acquah (23), Blackditch Drive, Ballyfermot; Olaydayo Olauira (31), Woodlawn Drive, Santry; and Oseretin Ogboghodo (26), North Circular Road, all Dublin.
Two were granted bail of €500 each and remanded to appear in June and July. They were Teslim Bolariuwa (20), Kilmartin Drive, Tallaght; and Muhyadine Abdillahi (19), Fairview Strand, both Dublin.
A sixth man, Jallo Folay (28), Annesley Bridge Court, Dublin, was also remanded in custody for a week after Judge Cormac Dunne deferred his bail application so that investigations can be carried out into his address, financial and marital status.
Garda probe Safe Pass fraud
The Garda fraud squad is to conduct an investigation into the sale of fraudulent accreditation letters that allow building workers to begin on construction sites without having completed a mandatory safety course, writes Fiona Gartland.
The letters are being sold on the black market for €50 each. Under current legislation, anyone working on a construction site, including trades people, security guards and delivery people, must take part in a one-day safety course run through Fás and must carry a Fás Safe Pass card.
The course teaches basic on-site safety procedures and is given by over 300 trainers countrywide, who are registered with Fás.