A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Brain-injured boy sues Holles Street
A young boy is severely brain-damaged because of alleged negligence and mismanagement in the circumstances of his birth at the National Maternity Hospital, Dublin it has been claimed in the High Court. It is alleged that a Caesarean section operation was not carried out as quickly as it should have been in the case of Conor Nelson, now aged five years.
Conor, Naas, Co Kildare, is bringing, through his mother Sandra Nelson, an action for damages against the hospital and a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Prof Colm O'Herlihy, arising from the circumstances of his birth there on March 5th, 2002.
The case, before Mr Justice Vivian Lavan, is expected to last several days.
Wexford youth cleared of rape
A Wexford teenager has been cleared by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of raping a then 14-year-old schoolgirl at an Arklow festival in 2004.
The jury found the 18-year-old youth not guilty on four charges of raping and sexually assaulting her on July 18th, 2004. He had told gardaí he was a virgin before he alleged the complainant "raped" him.
Industrial school abuse alleged
The State, the Mercy Order and the Archbishop of Tuam have asked the High Court to dismiss an action for damages by a woman who claims she was physically abused at an industrial school where she was sent after coming before the Dublin courts for begging when she was aged just 2½.
Dolores Faulkner claims she was subject to physical and emotional abuse and was unconstitutionally detained at St Joseph's industrial school in the west for almost 20 years. Ms Faulkner has brought an action for damages arising from her alleged treatment.
'Independent' libel case settled
A former spokeswoman for the anti-abortion organisation Youth Defence has settled her action for alleged libel against Independent Newspapers. The action arose out of an article published in the Irish Independent in November 1997 which referred to Niamh Nic Mhathúna.
Peter Finlay SC, for Ms Nic Mhathúna, told Mr Justice Peter Charleton in the High Court yesterday that the matter had been settled. The terms included the reading in court of an apology but no other details were disclosed.
The apology, read by Eoin McCullough SC, for Independent Newspapers, stated: "It is suggested that the articles meant that she had been trained in illegal activities and actions of a violent nature. We are happy to acknowledge that this was untrue, that no such meaning was intended and that Ms Nic Mhathúna is a person of the highest integrity."
Maze escaper in appeal to halt trial
Maze prison escaper Brendan McFarlane has lodged an appeal to the Supreme Court in an attempt to prevent his trial going ahead on charges connected with the 1983 kidnapping of supermarket boss Don Tidey.
The Special Criminal Court was told yesterday that papers had been lodged in an appeal to the Supreme Court against a High Court ruling last year that his trial should go ahead.
The court has remanded McFarlane on continuing bail until July, when his case will be mentioned again.