In Short

A round-up of today's other news stories in brief

A round-up of today's other news stories in brief

Man killed while moving machine

The Health and Safety Authority and gardaí were yesterday investigating the death of a man in a work-related accident near Caragh Lake in Co Kerry, writes Anne Lucey.

The 41-year-old quarrying company worker was moving a track machine from a site near Caragh Lake national school on the Muingaphúca by-road which connects with the main Ring of Kerry road between Killorglin and Glenbeigh.

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At 8.45am he was struck by the bucket of the track machine while it was being secured on to the low loader.

He died at the scene and his body was removed to Kerry General Hospital for a postmortem examination. A co-worker was taken to Kerry General Hospital suffering from severe shock.

The dead man is originally from England but had been living in the Ballinskelligs area for some time.

Garda Supt Michael O'Donovan said the dead man's name was not being released until relatives in England were contacted.

An inspector from the HSA was at the scene yesterday. The road was closed while a detailed technical examination was carried out by gardaí and the HSA.

Granddaughters were paid for sex

A 75-year-old Donegal grandfather who paid his three granddaughters "significant sums of money" to have sex with him on a regular basis has been jailed for five years by Mr Justice Paul Carney.

Patrick Murray (75) told the then young girls that sexual intercourse "was good for his health". He was using Viagra during the years he had sex with the victims and paid them between £40 and £60 a time.

Murray, of Mín a' Chladaigh, Mín Larach, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three sample charges of raping each of the girls at his home between 1993 and 1997.

The victims, who were aged from nine to 16 at the time, agreed that Murray be named in media reports.

Mr Justice Carney said his crimes against his granddaughters could "scarcely be more serious" He took into account his guilty plea. Normally this crime would merit a sentence of not less than 12 years but taking into account Murray's circumstances he sentenced him to five years in prison.

The oldest of the sisters told Mr Justice Carney that her grandfather's actions had affected each of the girls mentally and physically. They found it very difficult to trust people and some of them had been unable to complete their education. "We haven't had a normal way of life," she said.

Priest's appeal for missing nephew

A priest who set up Ireland's first missing persons website after his nephew went missing seven years ago this month has issued a plea to members of the public who may have information on the case to come forward, writes Olivia Kelleher.

Aengus (Gussie) Shanahan (now 27) disappeared after leaving Cooper's pub in Limerick at about 10.30pm on February 11th, 2000.

Fr Aquinas Duffy said the whole episode has been an "absolute nightmare" for Mr Shanahan's family and asked for anyone who has information to come forward. Fr Duffy's website can be accessed on  www.missing.ws

Conviction for traffic offences overturned

A man who, unknown to himself, was convicted in his absence and sentenced to three months' imprisonment on charges of having no car insurance and other road traffic offences, has secured a High Court order overturning his conviction.

Joseph Carpenter said he did have motor insurance at the time and the court was told yesterday the DPP and State were not opposing the quashing of Mr Carpenter's conviction.

Mr Carpenter, a self-employed contractor of Milltown, Laragh Hill, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, spent a night in custody in Bray Garda station last November and was sent to Wheatfield Prison the following day before being freed on bail that evening pending the outcome of his challenge to the legality of his detention, Mr Justice Liam McKechnie was told yesterday.

Indecent assault conviction quashed

A Co Dublin man and former childcare worker walked free from the Court of Criminal Appeal yesterday after it quashed his conviction for the alleged buggery and indecent assault of a 14-year-old boy in 1985.

The court ruled that, on grounds of failure to disclose documents which were said to contain material new evidence, the conviction of David Murray was unsafe.

In 2001, Murray (63) was sentenced to jail for a total of 10 years for indecent assault and buggery of a 14-year-old boy during a camping trip in Glendalough, Co Wicklow, 25 years ago.

Sentence in sex case adjourned

A pensioner with "a long-standing entrenched sexual interest in children" dating back over 40 years, has had his sentence for possession of child pornography further adjourned to allow Judge Katherine Delahunt consider updated reports.

Maurice Doran (67), who had over 5,283 child pornographic images, spent most of his working life in Irish Distilleries before becoming a driver for Cheeverstown, a centre for children with disabilities.

Doran, formerly of Rossmore Lawn, Templeogue, Dublin had the child pornographic images at his home on May 26th, 2001 and on December 15th, 2004, Dublin Circuit Criminal court was told.

Witness claims accused shot man

A witness in the murder trial of a 21-year-old Dublin man has said she saw the accused carry out the shooting and denied her own boyfriend was involved.

Sinéad Knowd was giving evidence in the trial of Stephen Kelly, Balcurris Road, Ballymun, Dublin, who has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the murder of Ian McConnell (28) who was shot outside the door of his flat at Shangan Road, Dublin on December 11th, 2005.

€1.4m drugs charge man gets 10 years

A man caught transporting €1.4 million of cannabis resin for what was described as "significant criminals" has been given a 10-year prison sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Conor Boyle (33), Moreen Avenue, Sandyford, pleaded guilty to possessing the drugs on Snugborough Road Extension, Blanchardstown, on June 8th, 2004.

Conductor Beckett dies in London

The death has taken place of conductor, harpsichordist and teacher John Beckett in London, just short of his 80th birthday, writes Michael Dervan.

A cousin of the writer Samuel Beckett, he was a pioneer of period performance style in Ireland. He was one of the founders of the British early music group, Musica Reservata, which became famous in the 1960s for its outgoing, often intentionally coarse-sounding style.

His best-known achievement in Dublin was the series of Bach cantata concerts which he started at St Ann's Church, Dawson Street, Dublin, in the early 1970s, and which brought invitations from the BBC Henry Wood Proms in London and the Bruges Festival in Belgium.

Actor Peter Dix dies aged 82

The actor Peter Dix has died aged 82. Mr Dix was a member of the RTÉ Repertory players for many years. He was a narrator in RTÉ's 32-hour production of Ulysses and performed in several roles at the Gate Theatre.

New Garda appointments

The Garda Commissioner will make a number of senior management appointments in the next two weeks.

The Garda press office said last night Chief Supt Mary Fitzgerald will move from the professional standards unit at Garda headquarters to the Garda College, where she will have responsibility for the Garda Reserve, including recruitment, training, promoting and liaison with industry.

Newly promoted chief superintendents are Chief Supt Pat Leahy, to take charge of the professional standards unit; Chief Supt Gerry Mahon, to take charge of the Clare division based at Ennis; and Chief Supt Paul Hargadon, who will be posted to national support services at Garda headquarters, where his responsibilities will include policy formulation and implementation of "cold case" reviews (unsolved historical cases).

Boxer Collins on assault charge

Former world champion boxer Steve Collins was remanded on bail yesterday charged with assaulting a bouncer. The 42-year-old, who attended a brief hearing at Kilmainham District Court in Dublin, was told he faces trial later this year in the Circuit Criminal Court.

The alleged assault took place outside the National Stadium in Dublin on June 3rd last year after Mr Collins was refused entry.

The court heard previously that the bouncer was punched in the mouth and two of his teeth were knocked out.

Mr Collins has pleaded not guilty. No date has been set for the trial.

Inquiry in Donegal into child's death

Gardaí in Donegal are investigating the death of a 10-month-old boy in a freak accident outside his home on Sunday.

Malachy Farrell was in a buggy outside the newly built family home near Castlefin, Donegal, when he was struck by a digger that was being operated by his father, Paul Farrell, who was doing work around the house.

New talks at Aer Lingus advised

The National Implementation Body has recommended that unions and management at Aer Lingus begin intensive negotiations with the assistance of the Labour Relations Commission to resolve a row over cost-cutting proposals, writes Fiona Gartland.

The industrial relations group said the future of the company "will depend substantially on the ability to operate in a harmonious working environment that focuses on continuous improvement" and that this requires "trust that the terms of agreements will be honoured by both sides".