A round-up of today's other court stories
Motorist not negligent after blackout
A 70-year-old motorist who crashed after suffering an epileptic blackout could not be held to have been negligent, a judge decided yesterday.
Mr Justice Esmond Smyth said Christine Williams (74), Goldenbridge Avenue, Inchicore, Dublin, could not be blamed for the crash in which her sister, Patricia McMahon, had been seriously hurt.
Ms McMahon (76), Athlumney Abbey, Navan, Co Meath, had sued her sister for €38,000 damages for personal injuries arising out of the crash in June 2002. Dismissing Ms McMahon's claim, Mr Justice Smyth said he accepted that Ms Williams had suffered an epileptic blackout and had not fallen asleep at the wheel as claimed.
The sisters disputed the falling asleep and epileptic blackout issues during evidence in which Mr Justice Smyth heard "family communications" had broken down following the accident.
RTÉ door damage case deferred
The case of a man charged with crashing his car at the revolving door of RTÉ causing damage to it, and a charge of harassment of RTÉ broadcaster Pat Kenny has been put back until Thursday.
Paul Stokes (52), Montpellier Parade, Monkstown, appeared at a scheduled hearing yesterday at the Bridewell District Court but the case was again deferred.
Ray Briscoe, solicitor acting for the Director of Public Prosecutions told Judge Brian Smyth that a report compiled by Dr Helen O'Neill, psychiatrist with The Central Mental Hospital where Mr Stokes has been detained for the last two weeks stated that Mr Stokes is unfit to enter a plea, and that the issue of insanity was to be raised when it is due to be heard again.
Fraud charge dropped in Belfast
A former manager with Shorts, accused of plotting to defraud the Belfast aircraft makers, was freed by Belfast Crown Court yesterday after the prosecution dropped the charge. No details surrounding the case involving William Spiers Black (50) of Lisbane Road, Saintfield, was given during the two-minute hearing.
Prosecuting, Stephen Fowler told Mr Justice Morgan his application was for the conspiracy charge to be "left on the books, not to be proceeded with, without leave of this court or the Court of Appeal".
The former manager, who worked for the company at its parent offices in Montreal, Canada, had always denied conspiring to defraud the company of almost £145,000 between January 2000 and December 2002.
Royal pledge case QC made judge
A barrister who won a landmark legal action against a promise to serve the queen has been appointed to the High Court judge in the North.
The appointment of Séamus Treacy, QC, comes seven years after he successfully challenged a Royal promise which barristers were required to make before they could become a Queen's Counsel.
Mr Treacy as well as Ben Stephens were sworn in as judges by the Lord Chief Justice Sir Brian Kerr at a private ceremony in the High Court.
Cllr Michael Meaney dies
Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said he has "learned with great sadness" of the premature death of Michael Meaney, one of the Party's longest-serving councillors. Cllr Meaney, who represented the Borris electoral area for over three decades, was cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council on four occasions.
Mr Meaney (64) had been in poor health for some time and died at home on Sunday. His funeral will take place tomorrow in the village of Ballymurphy after Requiem Mass in Borris, Co Carlow.