A round-up of today’s other court stories in brief
Cleared of handling Beit paintings
A woman has been cleared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of handling paintings valued at €2.6 million which had been stolen from the Beit Collection at Russborough House in 2001.
Rosemary Quinn (48), St Aongus Park, Tallaght, wept in court after the jury confirmed its unanimous not-guilty verdict on day nine of the trial.
Ms Quinn had pleaded not guilty to handling Madame Baccelli by Thomas Gainsborough and A View of Florence by Bernardo Bellotto, in June 2001.
'Incredible' that woman was let out
A British psychologist told the High Court yesterday he found it "incredible" that a woman who was in danger of killing herself had been allowed out of a psychiatric hospital.
It was the third day of an action for damages by Joseph Madigan, Bridge Street, Callan, Co Kilkenny, arising from the alleged suicide of his wife.
Catherine Madigan (37), who is believed to have committed suicide after she left St Patrick's psychiatric hospital in Dublin on May 14th, 1998, should have been placed under close observation by the hospital, Prof Kevin Gournay said.
The hospital has denied negligence.
Oonagh McCrann SC said Ms Madigan was given privileges, including being permitted to go out. Her clothes were found at Bray Head on May 20th, 1998, six days after she walked out of the hospital, but her body was never recovered.
Prof Gournay said the hospital's "close observation" regime allowed Ms Madigan unfettered access to the grounds of the hospital, in the middle of a city, up to the gates. To allow a lady in danger of killing herself out of the hospital bewildered him, he said.
He was astounded to be told it was not the practice for counsellors to keep notes. The case continues today.
Boy gets €340,000 in crash damages
The High Court has approved an award of €340,000 damages for a boy who sustained serious shoulder injuries in a road accident in Co Donegal when he was five years old.
Mr Justice Diarmuid O'Donovan ruled the settlement yesterday in favour of John Maguire, now aged 14, in his proceedings, brought on his behalf by his mother Eileen, Liskerran, Ballybofey, against Anthony Chambers, Castelfinn, Co Donegal, and the Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland.
Medical opinion said he would continue to have impairment of his left shoulder and elbow, as well as weakness of the wrist and fingers.
Woman takes case against sports clubs
Claims by a woman alleging her livelihood is threatened by two major sports clubs will be fully defended, the Circuit Civil Court was told yesterday.
Eileen Orr, who has been providing restaurant and catering services at the golf centre in Leopardstown racecourse for the past 10 years, had told the court that the Leopardstown Club Ltd and Horse Racing Ireland tried to force her to sack her sister before she would be awarded the renewal of the contract.
She had obtained injunctions restraining both organisations from impeding her access to the restaurant facilities at Leopardstown and from obstructing her from conducting her catering business there.