In Short

A round-up of other court stories in brief...

A round-up of other court stories in brief...

Cork man in court over fatal shooting

A man appeared in court yesterday charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a man almost three years ago.

Aidan Finnegan (28), with an address in Farranferris Green, Farranree, Cork, appeared at Blanchardstown District Court charged with the manslaughter of Dara McCormack on February 11th, 2006.

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Mr McCormack (21) was shot at Whitestown Park, Blanchardstown and died later at Connolly hospital in Blanchardstown.

Mr Finnegan was remanded in custody until February 6th.

Head of disability group resigns

The chief executive of a national disability organisation, who was involved in a legal dispute with the Government over attempts to cut his €150,000 salary, has resigned.

Michael Ringrose has informed People with Disabilities in Ireland (PwDI) of his resignation.

Mr Ringrose, a retired Garda chief superintendent in his late 60s, was fighting requests from the Department of Justice and the PwDI board to cut his annual salary to €90,000.

Dublin appeal for Gaza funds

A voluntary group gathered in Dublin yesterday to call for funding to help those affected by the recent conflict in Gaza.

Irish Medical Aid for Palestinians (IMAP) said yesterday that it has received some €90,000 in donations in recent weeks, which will be used to provide medical aid to Palestinian people, but that further funding is necessary.

Minister of State for Integration Conor Lenihan, Independent Senator David Norris and Fianna Fáil TD Chris Andrews gathered for the event.

Case against hospital dropped

A woman who failed in previous High Court claims of unlawful detention in a psychiatric hospital has withdrawn a fresh challenge to her detention.

The 69-year-old woman, who suffers from bi-polar disorder, was admitted to the hospital on December 9th, having been arrested by gardaí while out walking with her son.

She took a High Court challenge to that detention on grounds arising from the alleged unlawful arrest.

She failed in those proceedings and then brought another challenge over a separate decision of the hospital to keep her in despite a finding by an independent tribunal she was not suffering from a mental disorder (rather than a mental illness) which would have required her involuntary detention. She again failed to secure her release.

Yesterday, Mr Justice Michael Peart was told fresh proceedings were being withdrawn.

Man (22) jailed over handgun

A 22-YEAR-OLD man who said he was told he would be shot if he did not transport a gun for a Limerick gang has been jailed for three years.

Michael Doyle, of St Brendan’s Street, St Mary’s Park, Limerick, was found with a semi-automatic pistol concealed in his trousers after he was arrested by gardaí.

The 25-year-old driver of the car he was travelling in at the time of his arrest has since been murdered, a judge at the Circuit Criminal Court in Limerick was told.

Doyle pleaded guilty to possession of the handgun on March 4th, 2007.