A roundup of today's other court stories in brief
Judge to put all drugs offences on record
A judge has warned he will not take part in covering up for drug-users who want to travel to the US.
Judge Thomas Fitzpatrick said he would not tolerate requests not to record formal convictions for so-called minor offences so defendants would not be barred from America. The US refuses visas to applicants with recorded drugs convictions.
Judge Fitzpatrick was at Ballyshannon District Court when a man asked him not to record a conviction because it could affect his prospects of obtaining a US visa.
Antique furniture restorer John Gallagher (22), Kinlough, Co Leitrim, had enough cannabis in a car to roll 13 cigarettes in Bundoran, Co Donegal, last January 21st. Judge Fitzpatrick fined him €200.
Former principal assaulted minor
A former principal of a primary school in Waterford has pleaded guilty to the indecent assault of a minor over a 17-month period.
Fr Con Desmond (71), a former De La Salle brother, was subsequently ordained but is now suspended as a priest. He was charged yesterday at the Circuit Court in Waterford with six counts of indecent assault, at Stephen's Street national school in the city.
The assaults were carried out between January 1st, 1982, and June 24th, 1983, in the principal's office at the school and between the school and Cleaboy Road.
Judge Murphy remanded Desmond on continuing bail and adjourned sentencing to December 19th.
Judge refuses to allow Shell docket
The High Court has refused an application by two opponents of the route of the Corrib gas pipeline for an order that a document of Shell E & P Ireland's lawyers can be used in proceedings brought against the company.
Mr Justice Thomas Smyth yesterday dismissed claims by Brendan Philbin and Breege McGarry that a solicitor's attendance docket, mistakenly included by Shell's lawyers in documents for court proceedings last year, showed an abuse of the court process by Shell.
A solicitor's attendance docket is a record of notes of a consultation or meeting with a client.
The judge held the documents showed no evidence of "moral turpitude" or an ulterior motive by the company when bringing proceedings which led to the jailing of five residents of Rossport, Co Mayo, for 94 days last year.
Mr Justice Smyth said it was clear neither Shell nor its lawyers had any intention of waiving privilege over the docket, that it was released to the defendants by mistake and, having regard to its nature, it would be immediately clear it was a privileged document recording the giving and receiving of legal advice.
The mistake only came to light when The Irish Times contacted Shell in July 2005 to comment on the document.
Guilty of causing car injuries
A man has been found guilty of mowing down two men with a car causing one of them "catastrophic injuries".
Gerard Grey (23), Edenmore Crescent, Raheny, was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court yesterday of causing serious harm, assault causing harm, reckless endangerment, dangerous driving and possession of shotgun cartridges at Woodbine Road, Edenmore, on October 30th, 2004.
Judge Patricia Ryan remanded Grey in custody for sentence later.