A round-up of today's other news stories in brief
Former friar admits sex assault of girl
A former Franciscan friar has pleaded guilty at Wexford Circuit Court to the sexual assault of a young girl. The 66-year-old, who has been laicised for 10 years, is charged with eight counts of indecent assault of a girl aged between nine and 12.
He pleaded guilty to the offences, which occurred between 1972 and 1974.
Judge Alice Doyle adjourned sentencing and requested reports from probation services and a treatment centre, as well as a victim impact statement.
Development of church refused
The proposed conversion of an early 19th-century Catholic church near the sea in Ballybunion, Co Kerry, to five town houses has been turned down by An Bord Pleanála after an appeal by An Taisce, the national trust.
Kerry County Council had given a conditional go- ahead for the conversion of the protected structure in a prime special amenity area.
An Taisce said Doon Church had for years been a focal point and although not in good repair, it was an impressive building. It found separating it into a number of units undesirable.
An Bord Pleanála ruled that the former church, although in disrepair, would be significantly altered.
Still no judge or court for rape trial
The trial of a Donegal man charged with rape has again been adjourned at the Central Criminal Court because the jury in another trial is still deliberating.
This has resulted in no judge, court or jury-room being available for the trial, which is scheduled to continue for up to two weeks.
The jury which was sworn in last Monday is scheduled to return to the Four Courts in Dublin today and Mr Justice Barry White has told the members that if the hearing cannot begin then he will discharge it so that a fresh jury can be sworn in next Monday.
The accused (25) has pleaded not guilty to anally raping and sexually assaulting a woman (27) in April 2005.
No republican band for Thurles parade
A decision not to invite a republican band to participate in the St Patrick's Day parade in Thurles, Co Tipperary, has angered republicans throughout the county.
Local Sinn Féin town councillor David Doran has condemned the parade committee's decision not to invite the Dunloy Republican Flute Band to take part in the celebration.
Last year the Co Antrim band wore a paramilitary style uniform and, contrary to the usual protocol, carried the Tricolour as it marched through the town's streets.
Committee chairman Martin Ryan said the attire of the band contravened the apolitical approach to organising the annual event.
Rape trial jury sent to a hotel
The jury in the case of a Co Clare man, accused of raping a woman while she slept, has been sent to a hotel for the night at the Central Criminal Court. The man (26) had pleaded not guilty to raping and sexually assaulting the woman (33) in May 2005.
Mr Justice Paul Carney sent the jury away after the three women and nine men had failed to reach any verdict following just over four hours deliberation. It was the fourth day of the trial. The jury will resume deliberations this morning.
Leave to challenge HSE report sought
A retired health board official has applied for leave to bring a legal challenge to aspects of the HSE report into Leas Cross nursing home.
The proceedings have been brought by Michael Walsh, former acting chief executive officer of the Northern Area Health Board, with an address at Garristown, Co Dublin.
Eoin McCullough SC, for Mr Walsh, yesterday applied to Mr Justice Liam McKechnie for leave to bring a judicial review challenge to aspects of the HSE report into the Leas Cross nursing home.
Mr McCullough said his client's complaint was about the manner in which he had been treated in the report and about its failure to include his comments in the published version.
Mr Justice McKechnie will give his decision next Monday on whether leave should be granted to bring the proceedings.
Exclusion of text messages rejected
The Special Criminal Court has rejected a defence application to exclude text messages from the evidence against a Co Cork chef accused of IRA membership.
More than €90,000 was found in a Daz box which gardaí spotted in the accused's rucksack when they stopped the car in which he was travelling with two Northern men.
Don Bullman (32), Fernwood Crescent, Leghanamore, Wilton, Co Cork, has denied membership of the IRA on February 16th, 2005.
Conor Devally SC, defending, argued that because gardaí neglected to seek permission to examine their phones, the defendant's right to privacy had been infringed. Mr Justice Paul Butler rejected the application.
The trial continues.
Man gets 12 years for drug dealing
A man who spent €500 a week on cocaine and told gardaí he had made €100,000 in profit from the few months he had been drug dealing has been given a 12-year prison sentence by Judge Katherine Delahunt.
Anthony Duggan (21), St Teresa's Gardens, Rialto, Dublin, described himself as a "fairly big fish" in a drug- dealing operation after he was caught with €164,000 worth of heroin.
PSNI wants SF help in Omagh investigation
A senior PSNI detective is to seek Sinn Féin's co-operation with the Omagh bomb atrocity investigation now that the party has changed its policy on policing.
Chief Supt Norman Baxter will urge senior party representatives to back the hunt for all those involved in the dissident republican terrorist attack that killed 29 people.
Even though Sinn Féin has been accused of refusing to assist the investigation into the August 1998 outrage, detectives believe the party's decision finally to support policing in Northern Ireland could prove a major turning point.
Chief Supt Baxter wants Sinn Féin to declare publicly that anyone with information on the Real IRA attack should speak to the inquiry team. So far only one man has been charged with the murders. South Armagh electrician Seán Hoey (37) is awaiting a judge's verdict after standing trial in Belfast.
A PSNI spokesman confirmed the move may be imminent. It is understood Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy will be among those contacted by Mr Baxter. The Newry and Armagh MP said tonight he was unaware of the development. - (PA)
Worker airlifted from ferry ship
An Irish Ferries crew member was in hospital last night after being airlifted yesterday morning.
The Lithuanian man (36) reported feeling severe abdominal pains on the Normandy ferry as it sailed between Rosslare and Cherbourg.
An RAF rescue helicopter was scrambled and winched the man from the vessel at about 5am yesterday. He was taken to hospital in Pembrokeshire where he was diagnosed with a perforated ulcer.
Garda appeal on missing teenager
Gardaí from Kevin Street station are seeking assistance in locating James Maughan (16), last seen in Nicholas Street, Dublin, last Sunday.
He is described as 1.75m, of broad build, with blue eyes and light brown hair.
Man stabbed his neighbour
A man who stabbed his next-door neighbour "in 30 seconds of madness" after being caught letting the air out of her car's tyre has had his sentence adjourned.
Michael O'Keefe (60), Castlepark, Tallaght, a former Irish Press printer, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Ellen Farrelly in April 2005, at Swan's Nest Road, Kilbarrack.
Judge Katherine Delahunt adjourned sentence to consider medical reports.
Sgt Eileen Costello said Ms Farrelly had been socialising in a pub on the night and when she returned home she saw someone under her car.
She asked the person what they were doing and she said O'Keefe, her next-door neighbour, got up and ran towards her shouting incoherently. He hit out at her several times landing blows and she ran screaming for help out on to the road where she noticed she had blood on her chest.
Sgt Costello said there had been a dispute between the two families about refuse and O'Keefe believed the car was being used to transport refuse.