In Short

A round-up of today's other court stories in brief

A round-up of today's other court stories in brief

Judgment reserved on O'Callaghan

The Supreme Court has reserved judgment on the appeal by Cork property developer Owen O'Callaghan against the High Court's dismissal of his challenge to the Mahon tribunal's further inquiring into claims made against him by Tom Gilmartin.

The tribunal had planned to carry out those inquiries in its Quarryvale Two module on February 6th but agreed to adjourn pending the outcome of the appeal.

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The appeal hearing concluded yesterday and judgment was reserved.

Last October Mr Justice Thomas Smyth dismissed the challenge brought by Mr O'Callaghan; John Deane, a solicitor and a partner in O'Callaghan Properties; Riga Ltd of Lavitt's Quay, Cork, and Barkhill Ltd, the company which developed the Liffey Valley shopping centre in Dublin.

Mr O'Callaghan had claimed Mr Gilmartin has made "entirely untrue" allegations in private to the tribunal, including that he had made offshore payments to senior politicians. He claimed those allegations were never mentioned in evidence by Mr Gilmartin at the tribunal's public sessions and were concealed by the tribunal.

He claimed the tribunal was biased against him and in favour of Mr Gilmartin in relation to its treatment of Mr Gilmartin's evidence in the Quarryvale One module.

Mr Justice Smyth rejected those claims and awarded costs of the High Court case, estimated at €2 million, against Mr O'Callaghan.

Retired garda forged documents

A retired garda has been convicted by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of forging two documents in relation to cars stolen from the official compound at Store Street.

John Mulvihill (54), Cherryvalley, Rathmolyon, Co Meath, was found guilty of forging what purported to be a replacement document and a document purporting to be a sworn declaration in 2002. The jury found him not guilty on two further charges of stealing a Mitsubishi Colt and a Ford Transit van from the Store Street compound.

Judge Frank O'Donnell remanded Mulvihill on bail for sentence in March.

Teenager admits Navan killing

A young man has pleaded guilty to the killing of a Navan teenager nearly two years ago. Richard Mullen (19), Claremount Estate, Navan, Co Meath, had been charged with the unlawful killing of Simon Sharkey (18) at Johnstownwood, Navan, on May 28th, 2005. Mr Sharkey died six days later.

Mullen was due to stand trial next week but yesterday at Trim Circuit Court he entered a guilty plea. Sentencing will take place in April.