More courts news in brief.
Jury in money laundering case retires
The jury in the trial of a former car salesman accused of money laundering the proceeds of crime has gone to a hotel overnight after failing to reach a verdict following three hours of deliberation.
James Naylor (38), Pine Forest Road, Glencullen, Co Dublin, pleaded not guilty to seven charges of laundering the proceeds of criminal activities between March 2001 and June 2003. His trial opened seven days ago at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Judge Michael White has directed the jury to find Mr Naylor not guilty of two of the seven charges and it will resume deliberations on the remaining five counts this morning. The jury has heard that Mr Naylor had a business arrangement to sell cars for Michael Byrne who was jailed for six years in Britain in April 2003 for laundering the proceeds of drug-trafficking.
Trial of couple on rape charges
A man and a woman are going on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with raping two teenage girls in Wexford and Dublin four years ago.
The African couple have denied 11 charges alleging offences from November 20th to December 2nd, 2002, at two addresses. One of the alleged victims was aged 13 years at the time and the second 14.
The 38-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to five charges of raping one of the girls in a Wexford town and at an address unknown in Dublin. He has also pleaded not guilty to two charges of section 4 rapes of the second girl.
The 36-year-old woman has pleaded not guilty to two counts of raping one of the girls at an address unknown in Dublin. She also denies two counts of encouraging unlawful sexual intercourse with a child "in her custody, charge and care" and that she "wilfully allowed her to be assaulted or ill-treated" in a manner that could affect her health.
The trial is scheduled to get under way before Mr Justice Barry White on Thursday.
Guilty plea in sex assault case
A man has pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to a serious sexual assault on a woman in Co Kerry two years ago.
William O'Brien (21), St Martin's Park, Tralee, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault of the woman on June 17th, 2004, and to burglary while using a knife as a weapon on the same date.
Mr Justice Paul Carney directed that O'Brien's name be placed on the register of sex offenders and remanded him on continuing bail for sentence later.
Man seeks to halt assault trial
A Co Louth man accused of sexually assaulting the girlfriend of one of his sons has brought a High Court challenge aimed at halting his trial.
The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, yesterday secured leave from Mr Justice Michael Peart to seek an injunction to restrain his further prosecution on charges that he sexually assaulted the girl, who is now aged 17, on January 12th and 18th, 2003, and on February 2nd, 2003.
The man claims his right to a fair trial has been prejudiced due to the delay between the alleged offences and the bringing of the prosecution. He claims he wil be unable to properly defend himself.
Jury in money laundering case retires
A man who sexually assaulted a neighbour's four- year-old son told gardaí he was not a "normal person" and wanted to be caught so he would no longer be a danger to children.
The now 30-year-old, who cannot be named in order to protect the identity of his victim, has been given a nine-month suspended sentence by Judge Bryan McMahon at Dublin Circuit Court.
He was also placed on the register of sex offenders