A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Drunk driver ignored advice from bouncer
A man who twice ignored a pub bouncer's advice not to drive while drunk reversed into a nearby car as soon as he started the engine, a court heard yesterday.
John Carroll (41), a married father of two from Woodland Drive, Santry, Dublin, was banned from driving for two years and fined €600 after he was convicted of driving with more than two-and-a-half times the legal alcohol limit at Northside Shopping Centre, Coolock, on October 25th, 2003.
Dublin District Court heard he walked out of Liz Delaney's pub and took his keys out of his pocket to get into his car. A doorman at the pub advised him to "walk home" because he was in no condition to drive. About ten minutes later Carroll returned to the car and reversed into a car parked behind him.
The doorman said he opened the door, took the keys out of the ignition and called the gardaí. Carroll was arrested and later gave a sample with a reading of 265mg alcohol per 100ml blood.
Judge Hugh O'Donnell gave him three months to pay the fine after hearing he was a public service vehicle driver and the ban would have repercussions for his ability to earn a living.
Longer sentence for vicious attack
A Dublin woman who was part of a vicious attack on a couple and who also threatened to kill her "adopted" grandmother had her four-year prison sentence increased to eight years by the Court of Criminal Appeal yesterday.
However, the jail sentence was suspended when the judge heard that Amanda Cleary (20), from Basin Street, the Liberties, had only been released from prison last September and Mr Justice Nial Fennelly said the court was reluctant to send her back to prison.
The sentence was suspended on condition that Cleary entered a bond to keep the peace for ten years, to stay away from drugs and to attend counselling.
Cleary was orginally sentenced for assault on a couple on December 31st, 2002, burglary and witness intimidation on May 24th, 2003 and burglary on May 28th, 2003. All the offences took place at the home of Mary Cunningham at Ave Maria Road, Maryland, Dublin. Ms Cunningham was not related to Cleary but had cared for her as a child following the deaths of her parents.
Man tried to bite female garda
A man who tried to bite a female garda may be ordered to carry out work in the community in lieu of prison. David Ward (30) of Vesey Mews, Monkstown, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting gardaí Tim O'Connor and Sonia Skelly on September 19th, 2003.