A round-up to today's other court stories in brief
Three men admit having explosives
Three men arrested during a Special Branch investigation into the activities of dissident republicans were jailed at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday after they pleaded guilty to having explosives.
Francis McGeown (64), Lurgan, Co Armagh, and Cox's Demesne, Dundalk; Pascal Burke (42), Marrowbone Lane, Dublin; and Ciarán Dunne (23), Lucan, Co Dublin, admitted the unlawful possession of black powder consisting of potassium nitrate, charcoal and sulphur and 100 rounds of ammunition, at Julianstown, Co Meath, on January 21st, 2005.
Burke was jailed for seven years from May 1st, Dunne for five years from July 1st, and McGeown for four years from May 1st, 2005.
Two remanded for sentencing
Two men who assaulted a Lithuanian man on the banks of the Royal Canal will be sentenced later by Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Michael Rae (20), Barry Road, Finglas, and Leigh O'Connell (19), Blackmore Lane, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and to assault causing harm to Sigitas Ziezdrys in September 2004.
Their trial earlier this week was discharged by Judge Donagh McDonagh who said that matters had arisen in the jury's absence which caused him to withdraw the case from it.
Judge Hogan remanded both men in custody.
Teenager held for mugging sentence
A teenager who took part in a vicious mugging during which an English woman was dragged down an alley, where she was beaten and bitten, has been remanded in custody. The north inner city Dublin youth (17) pleaded guilty yesterday to the attempted robbery of the woman (23) on Parnell Street in June last year.
Judge Catherine Murphy said a custodial sentence would be imposed.
Youths admit unprovoked attack
Two youths who assaulted and robbed teenage boys in an "unprovoked attack" using "gratuitous violence" have been sentenced to 3½ years each by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Michael White said this type of incident was "one of the greatest fears parents have".
Nollaig Burke (19), Whitestown Park, Blanchardstown, and Richard Dekker (19), Grace O'Malley Drive, Howth, pleaded guilty to robbery, attempted robbery and assault causing harm in Coolmine, west Dublin, in December 2002.