A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Man admits robbery of service station
A former soldier who claimed he discovered that he had tried to rob his local garage only when his friends called him to say he was on the Crimecall television programme may have the option of community service in lieu of a prison sentence.
When David Day (34), of Mount Eustace Park, Tyrellstown, Dublin, went to the local Garda station the next day to report that he was responsible and that he had no recollection of committing the crime, gardaí at first thought he was joking. He persisted and brought them back to his home to give them the clothes he had been wearing that night.
Day, who was working as a taxi driver at the time, pleaded guilty to an attempted robbery of the Shell service station in Mulhuddart on March 12th, 2005, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Grainne O'Neill, defending, told Judge Katherine Delahunt that Day had been in the Defence Forces for five years before he started working as a taxi driver.
Ms O'Neill said he had not a drink or drug problem and had no explanation as to how the incident happened. He had been engaged to be married but the relationship broke up because of the stress of the court case.
Judge Delahunt said that although this type of offence normally involved a custodial sentence, she was willing to consider community service because it was an "unusual case".
Judge Delahunt noted also that Day had no previous convictions, had not come to Garda attention since and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.
She remanded him on bail to allow for the preparation of a probation report on his suitability for community service.
Boy ransacked taxi driver's car
A 16-year-old boy who stole a taxi driver's takings after ransacking his car has been ordered to pay compensation.
The north inner city boy admitted breaking into the taxi driver's car and stealing €150 on April 23rd last at Eccles Street, Dublin.
Garda Alison O'Neill said at the Dublin Children's Court that the boy, who was with two others at the time, smashed the car's window and rummaged around. He took the taxi man's money pouch, which contained €150. She also added that damage worth about €2,500 was caused to the car. The teenager had five previous convictions.
His solicitor, Michelle Finan, said that he has been trying his best to stay out of trouble and intended to take part in a training course. She said that he would get a job in order to compensate the victim.
Judge Bryan Smyth remanded the boy on bail to appear again on July 7th for sentencing and ordered him to pay compensation to the taxi driver.
Haddock case man named in court
The man alleged to have shot loyalist Mark Haddock was named in court yesterday. Ronald Bowe (29) was said to have shot the alleged police informer six times.
Mr Haddock (37), from Mount Vernon, Belfast, was gunned down on May 30th and is recovering under armed guard in the Royal Victoria Hospital.
Details of the daylight shooting were revealed in the High Court during a bail application by Darren Moore (36), from Mount Vernon Park. He and Mr Bowe are jointly charged with attempting to murder Mr Haddock.
Crown prosecutor Charles McKay said Mr Haddock had told police he was alone when he kept an appointment with Mr Moore to enlist his help in getting a death threat lifted.
Mr McKay said Mr Haddock told police that Mr Moore got out of a car and walked towards him but then stepped aside and a second man began firing from inside the car.
"Haddock said the gunman was Ronald Bowe, a co-accused who is in custody," said Mr McKay.