A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Judgment reserved in media case
Judgment has been reserved in an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions to restrict the media from publishing material which may prejudice the upcoming trial of George Redmond. Following a two-day hearing at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court Judge Joseph Matthews said he would deliver his judgment as soon as possible.
Lawyers for the DPP have applied to restrict pre-trial publicity in relation to the former assistant Dublin city and county manager in the run-up to his July trial.
Mr Redmond (82), Castleknock, Dublin 15, will be tried on two counts of corruption in an alleged payment of Ir£10,000 in respect of a compulsory purchase order by Dublin City Council on 167 acres of land at Bussardstown and Coolmine between June 1987 and June 1989.
Several newspapers including the Irish Independent, The Irish Times, the Irish Examiner, the Sunday Business Post, the Sunday Times and Associated Newspapers are represented in the hearing.
Man on child porn charges gets bail
A man charged with having 686 images of child pornography on his home computer was yesterday remanded on bail to appear at Dublin's Cloverhill District Court on March 21st next. Wolfgang Jorke, Corballis Demense, Rathoath, Co Meath, was charged with possession of child pornography at his former address at Delwood Walk, Blanchardstown, Co Dublin, on September 15th.
Dublin District Court was told by Detective Sargent Liam Kelly that further charges may be brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Giving evidence in support of his bail application, Mr Jorke, a German national, said he was employed in Ireland full time and had already surrendered his passport.
As part of his bail conditions Mr Jorke was required to give an undertaking that he would not apply for a duplicate passport and would sign on at Ashbourne Garda station twice a week. Bail was set at €1,000 with an independent surety of €4,000.
Father of two jailed for having cannabis
A father of two whose partner committed suicide has received a 10-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possession of cannabis valued at nearly €135,000 which he had hidden in his sister's attic. David Kavanagh (26), Tymon North Road, Tallaght, Dublin pleaded guilty to possession of 82 "nine ounce bars" of cannabis for sale or supply at Donomore Park on March 24th, 2006.
He owed his own drugs supplier €25,000 which was paid off by his family to protect him, the court heard.
Guilty plea for stolen firearms
A Derry man who now lives in Westmeath has been jailed for two years for possession of stolen firearms he claimed he bought to use in sporting activities with his children. Eamon Carlin (44) a separated father of five, Pettis Wood Manor, Mullingar, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of the firearms and handling stolen property at Balgaddy Road, Clondalkin in January 2006.
Car dealer pays up in dismissal case
A boss who got fed up with an employee probably let her go without checking out the legal position of the company, a judge decided yesterday. Mr Justice Esmond Smyth said Con Goff, managing director of Renault Distributors, Liffey Valley, Lucan, Co Dublin, must have realised afterwards he may have made a legal mistake in dismissing a 33-year-old sales representative.
Deborah Byrne, Marley Lawn, Rathfarnham, had sued the car dealership for wrongful dismissal. Goff denied dismissing her. Judge Smyth awarded her €3,175 in lieu of notice and damages.
Man charged with making child porn film
A man has been charged with making a child porn film. Anthony Nagle (46), Nicholas Square, Ballymacthomas, Cork, was charged with three counts relating to the offences.
Insp Charlie Barry told Cork District Court that the Director of Public Prosecutions recommended that the man face trial by indictment at Cork Circuit Criminal court.
Mr Nagle is accused of having on October 17th, 2005, a video recording made by him of a child engaged in a sexual act with him.
He is also charged that between September 14th, 2005, and October 17th, 2005, he produced child pornography for distribution, publication, exportation, sale or show. He is also accused of using a child for sexual exploitation.
The complainant is a teenage girl under 18. The case was adjourned until April 24th and Mr Nagle was remanded on continuing bail.
Man still held on pensioner's death
A man was still being questioned by gardaí in Co Mayo last night in connection with the death at the weekend of a farmer from the Erris peninsula whose body was found in his driveway by a neighbour on Sunday.
John Gaughan (72), who lived alone at Glosh, Blacksod, had serious injuries and gardaí stepped up their investigation following a postmortem examination at Mayo General Hospital.
A 26-year-old local man was being held for questioning under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act at Belmullet Garda station yesterday. His period of detention was extended during the day, on the direction of Chief Supt Tony McNamara.
There was a huge turnout at the removal of Mr Gaughan from his bungalow to Aughleam church last night following a traditional wake. His funeral takes place to Aughleam cemetery today following Requiem Mass at midday.
Hospital hit by vomiting bug
The public has been asked not to visit Dublin's Tallaght hospital unless absolutely necessary due to an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug.
The hospital also said in a statement that there had been an increased admission rate to the A&E department of patients with diarrhoea and vomiting and this has put considerable pressure on staff and beds.
"Patients are reminded that the winter vomiting virus alone does not require acute hospital treatment and that those with symptoms of the virus should if possible contact their GP in the first instance," it said.
Wexford woman in car crash dies
The Wexford mother of three who was seriously injured in a car crash outside New Ross last weekend has died at Beaumont Hospital.
Siobhán McGrath (37) from New Ross had been in a critical condition at Beaumont Hospital since Sunday.
Major fire at supermarket
A large supermarket was evacuated last night after the second major fire in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, in a week.
Emergency services were called to the blaze at the rear of O'Connor's shopping centre on Martyrs' Road after the alarm was raised just after 6pm. The fire is believed to have started in an adjacent compound owned by Chadwicks building supplies.
Flames leapt 40 feet into the air as highly flammable materials, including slabs of aeroboard, caught fire. Gardaí were also forced to evacuate the shopping centre and Chadwicks after the first of four explosions, believed to have been caused by gas bottles, went off.
The fire comes just days after a major fire at a warehouse owned by Abbey Machinery Ltd. Gardaí will investigate this morning.