Other court stories in brief
Limerick boy (15) charged with murder
A 15-year-old boy appeared before Limerick District Court yesterday charged with murdering a father of two in the city last September.
Patrick Coleman (33), originally from Kildare, died after he was attacked near his home in John Carew Park on September 2nd, 2007.
The scaffolder had been returning home from a pub after watching the All-Ireland hurling final between Limerick and Kilkenny.
Det Garda David Nolan, Roxboro, gave evidence of arresting the defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, at his home.
Free legal aid was granted. Insp Séamus Ruane, Henry Street, asked that the defendant be remanded in custody to appear before the next sitting of Limerick Children's Court on June 3rd.
Judge O'Donnell granted the application, saying bail was a matter for the High Court.
The boy's parents were in court but family members of Mr Coleman were not allowed in during proceedings, in accordance with provisions of the Children's Act.
Cab order on drug dealer's house
The High Court has granted a freezing order to the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) over a house in Co Leitrim owned by a convicted English drug dealer.
Peter Roddy (64), Stanley Avenue, Manchester, is serving a seven-year term imposed by a Manchester court for possession of cocaine and heroin for the purpose of supply, the court was told yesterday.
Roddy had paid IR£85,000 cash in 2004 for a house and 7.2 acres at Drumlarkin, Cloone, Leitrim, and lived there until he visited England and was arrested.
The Irish authorities received information about the house and Cab brought an application under Section 3 of the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Mr Justice Kevin Feeney granted an order preventing disposal of the house pending further proceedings.
Increased term for assault on boy
The Court of Criminal Appeal has increased from four to six years the sentence imposed on a 59-year-old man for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy whose mother he had befriended.
The three-judge court agreed with the DPP the original sentence was unduly lenient in a case which, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns said, undoubtedly involved "a violation of trust".
Six months for driving offences
A man was jailed for six months and banned from driving for 15 years at Bray District Court yesterday following his sixth conviction for driving with no insurance.
Judge William Hamill was told that Keith Byrne (38), Belcamp Crescent, Priorswood, Dublin, had 48 previous convictions, of which five were for having no insurance.
Man says 'voices' made him attack
A psychiatric patient who stabbed a Temple Bar busker because voices told him the man was going to kill someone has been given a four-year sentence by Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Stuart Murphy (31), who is being held in the Central Mental Hospital, claimed he spoke with the victim before stabbing him but witnesses said this was untrue and "the voices" were a figment of his imagination. Murphy, of Kilmahuddrick Lawn, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the busker on August 31st, 2006.
Court orders man's extradition
The High Court has ordered the extradition to the UK of a Northern Ireland man convicted in his absence there of conspiring to evade excise duties and to conceal the proceeds of criminal conduct. The British authorities had sought the extradition of Thomas Martin McCague, Meenlaragh, Crolly, Co Donegal.