More court-related news in brief.
ESB granted injunction against farmers
The High Court has granted an injunction restraining a number of farmers who are preventing the ESB entering their lands in west Co Cork to erect an electricity line for a windfarm development.
On the application of counsel for the farmers, Mr Justice Frank Clarke agreed to put a stay on implementation of the injunction until June 1st.
Mel Christle SC, for the ESB, said it was seeking to prevent the farmers from stopping the ESB entering their lands in the townlands of Dromdonee West, Dromourneen, Cullomane East, Baurgorm, Cappanavar and Derryginagh Middle in Carbery West and Bantry, Co Cork, for the purpose of erecting a 38kv electricity line.
The line was to connect a windfarm owned by the Ballybane Windfarms Limited, he said. An agreement to erect the line was entered into in 2003, he added.
The farmers were not legally represented at a previous hearing and Joe Burke of the Bantry Concern Action Group told the court he had no money and neither had the other group members. Mr Burke said his members wanted the line to go underground for safety reasons.
Latvian jailed for manslaughter
A Latvian man who killed a fellow countryman in a drink-fuelled row over rent money was sentenced to eight years for manslaughter in the Central Criminal Court yesterday.
Sergey Strauntinsh (37), of no fixed abode, had admitted killing, but denied murdering Alexandres Timosejevs (31), at the flat they were sharing in Seville Place, Dublin, on December 21st, 2002.
In sentencing, Mr Justice Barry White said he had to balance the gravity of the offence with Strauntinsh's personal circumstances. He backdated the sentence to June 1st, 2005, to take into account time already spent by Strauntinsh in custody.
High Court orders extradition to US
The High Court has ordered the extradition to the United States of an American who is facing charges relating to the death of three students in a traffic accident. Frederick David Russell, has 15 days to lodge an appeal against the order.
Mr Justice Michael Peart made an order committing him to prison to await the order of the Minister for Justice for his extradition.
In opposing his extradition, Mr Russell (26), who was arrested in Dublin last November, claimed he had received death threats in the US after the road crash on June 4th, 2001.
Mr Russell is alleged to have absconded after he was charged in Washington State on three counts each of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault. He also faces charges arising out of the alleged cashing of a cheque on his father's account.
Suspended term in trespass case
A man discovered in a toilet in an enclosed monastery is to get a suspended sentence on very strict conditions from Judge Joseph Matthews. The judge said he needed "long-term vocational training and support because he is deeply psychiatrically disturbed".
Shane Hempenstall (29), of Finglas Wood Road, Dublin, who has 40 previous convictions, was found guilty of trespassing in a manner that could cause fear at the Redemptoristine Nuns of Saint Alphonsus Monastery in Drumcondra, on August 19th, 2004.