A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Youth charged under new drugs law
A Dublin teenager, who is believed to be first person to be charged with a newly designated offence of smuggling drugs into a prison, has been given a one-year sentence.
The youth (18) had pleaded guilty at the Dublin Children's Court to possession of the diazepam tablets in the vicinity of St Patrick's Institution. Judge Catherine Murphy imposed a one-year sentence yesterday but suspended it on condition that he is of good behaviour for the next two years.
Det Garda Niamh Coates, Fitzgibbon Street station, told the court he had 58 diazepam tablets concealed in an egg. Diazepam, a controlled drug, is a sedative used to relieve anxiety and relax muscles.
The 2006 Criminal Justice Act brought into force the new offence of smuggling, or attempting to smuggle, drugs into a prison.
Fahy application for bail adjourned
An application for bail brought by Michael Fahy, the former Fianna Fáil councillor jailed after being found guilty of misappropriation of council funds and attempted theft, has been adjourned by the Court of Criminal Appeal.
Fahy (56), Ardrahan, Co Galway, was last week given a 12-month jail sentence and was fined for fraud and attempted theft.
Martin Giblin, for Fahy, said yesterday he was seeking bail pending appeal and asked the court to hear the application as soon as possible. Bernard Condon, for the DPP, sought an adjournment to allow him to consider a lengthy affidavit filed on behalf of Fahy.
Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman, with Mr Justice Liam McKechnie and Mr Justice Brian McGovern, adjourned the bail hearing to Friday.
Bouncer assaulted man outside club
A bouncer who assaulted a man he had turned away at the door of a Dublin lapdancing club for being drunk, has been fined €5,000 and given a three-year suspended sentence.
Raymond Murphy (43), Drumcondra, Dublin, was also ordered by Judge Donagh McDonagh at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to carry out 250 hours of community service. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Oliver Scally at Fitzwilliam Square and Leeson Street in July 2005.
Judge McDonagh said that Murphy attacked the "unfortunate victim" in a particularly savage manner. He accepted there was a "very minor element of provocation" but said that as a bouncer, Murphy had to acknowledge he would be dealing with people who were not thinking rationally.
"If you are not able to control your temper, you should not take on a job where you will have to deal with provocation."
Two on BSE charges refused bail
A Co Tipperary father and son, who were jailed earlier this year after being found guilty of introducing a BSE- infected animal into a herd to obtain compensation, have been refused bail by the Court of Criminal Appeal.
Thomas Hickey snr (72) and Jeremiah Hickey (38), Grange, Nenagh, were jailed for three years after they were found guilty of conspiring to defraud the Minister for Agriculture.
Their lawyers yesterday said they had lodged an appeal on several grounds, including relating to the trial judge's charge to the jury.
Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman, with Mr Justice Liam McKechnie and Mr Justice Brian McGovern, said both were convicted men and the court could grant bail to convicted persons only in exceptional circumstances.
Late last year, the two were found guilty of placing a BSE-infected animal in the herd at Clonakilty, Co Cork, in September 1996 with the intention that the cattle would be destroyed so that herd depopulation compensation, worth €95,000, would be paid.
Two women die after road crashes
A woman who sustained serious injuries in a road traffic collision yesterday morning has died at University College Hospital, Galway. The woman (81), who has not been named, was a front-seat passenger in a car which collided with a van at Lydican near Claregalway just before 9am.
Gardaí in Co Donegal, meanwhile, are investigating a fatal road crash early yesterday in which a woman died.
The single-vehicle crash occurred at 2.15am at Meencarrigach, Ballybofey, Co Donegal, when the car in which the woman was travelling left the road.
Killarney murder appeal dismissed
An appeal by a chef against his conviction for the murder of his friend and former work colleague has been dismissed by the Court of Criminal Appeal.
Joe Greaney (36), Cahernane Meadows, Killarney, Co Kerry, was convicted last May of murdering Fergal Landy (27), Ennis, Co Clare, in Killarney in January 2005.