More news in brief.
Chance for man growing cannabis
A "multi-talented young man" who was caught growing 20 cannabis plants in the attic of his rented home has had his sentence adjourned to allow him to rehabilitate from a 16-year drug habit.
Ronan Reddy (30) represented Ireland as a teenager in two world and one European sailing championships and was on the Irish team that won the International Sailing Federation's Nations Cup.
He was described as "a talented qualified chef" by his father Brian Reddy who said he believed his son had turned a corner in his life.
Reddy, of Waterloo Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to cultivating cannabis plants and to having cannabis for sale or supply at Stepaside on February 7th, 2007.
Patrick Reynolds, defending, told Judge Katherine Delahunt that his client's constant cannabis use since the age of 14 had stolen much from his life and led to him to being on the verge of a custodial sentence.
Calor Dublin Port plant to close
Siptu will meet Calor management after the company's announcement that its cylinder-filling plant at Dublin Port is to close with the loss of 18 jobs.
Calor said that the decision to shut the plant at the end of August came following a strategic review of operations in Ireland.
The company employs 277 people and Calor's two other plants in Cork and Belfast are not affected by this decision. It said it will offer a generous severance package to the workers .
Albert Reynolds apology
On May 6th last an article was published under the heading "Break with past the key to Cowens future", which referred to Mr Albert Reynolds. The article suggested that Mr Reynolds and others had been forced from the office of An Taoiseach by scandal.
We have been asked to clarify and confirm that Mr Reynolds was not forced from office by scandal. We apologise to Mr Reynolds and his family for any distress which the article may have caused.
Two facing cannabis charges
Two men appeared at Castleblayney District Court, Co Monaghan, yesterday charged with cultivating cannabis and opium at a premises at Clontibret, near the south Armagh border.
Polish nationals Maciej Cibiniak (34) and Tomasz Poltoranos (33) of Clontibret were remanded on continuing bail by Judge Conal Gibbons to July 21st after Garda Insp Fintan McTiernan said the prosecution was awaiting a report relating to the examination of the plants which were uncovered during a Garda operation.
Electric Picnic 'not in jeopardy'
The Electric Picnic festival "is not in jeopardy and never was", its promoter John Reynolds has said, responding to reports yesterday that the "boutique" music festival may be cancelled due to a legal wrangle with the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO).
Mr Reynolds said all 32,500 tickets for the multi-stage festival sold out yesterday. In its fourth year, the three-day festival, at Stradbally, Co Laois, takes place at the end of August.
He vigorously denied reports that IMRO's claim to be owed €432,000 by his organisation, POD Concerts, put this year's festival in doubt.
Speaking yesterday Mr Reynolds said the festival was about "much more than music", saying 145 bands had been announced so far and adding that further announcements would be made about 80 spoken word acts, 40 comedians and the opening of the walled garden on the Stradbally estate for the first time since 1968 for "an enormous, pioneering arts fair".
IMRO was unavailable for comment.