A round-up of today's other court stories in brief...
State to pay legal costs of Shortt appeal
The State has agreed to pay, on the highest level, the estimated multimillion euro legal costs of Co Donegal nightclub owner Frank Shortt, who earlier this month was awarded €4.7 million compensation by the Supreme Court arising from his being wrongfully framed by gardaí on drug charges.
Hugh Mohan SC, for Mr Shortt, yesterday applied to the Supreme Court for costs of his client's appeal on a solicitor-client basis, the highest level. The State was not objecting to costs on that level, counsel added. The court was also told the State had not appealed against the High Court's award of the costs of Mr Shortt's proceedings in that court to Mr Shortt, also awarded on a solicitor-client basis.
Chief Justice Mr Justice John Murray said the High Court costs order would stand and Mr Shortt would also receive the Supreme Court hearing costs on a solicitor-client basis.
Court approves €2m settlement
The High Court has approved a €2 million settlement for a former management consultant who claimed he was left with irreversible brain damage after allegedly being given too much anti-clotting medicine. David Payne (44), a father of three, now has to use a wheelchair and, although he can talk, is unable to articulate properly.
Mr Payne, Broadfield View, Naas, Co Kildare, had sued St Vincent's Private Hospital, Herbert Avenue, Dublin, and a consultant cardiologist, Ken McDonald, over his treatment.
Mr Justice John Quirke yesterday approved the settlement against Mr McDonald. The case against the hospital was struck out.
Date for Navan bus crash trial set
Two companies accused of offences in relation to the fatal Navan school bus crash in May 2005 will be tried at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court next year. The case against Keltank Ltd Balbriggan, Dublin, and McArdles Test Centre Ltd, Dundalk, was mentioned for the first time in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after being transferred from the Trim Circuit Court.
Judge Katherine Delahunt set February 25th, 2008, as the trial date.
Manslaughter sentence reduced
A Latvian national had his sentence for the manslaughter of a fellow countryman, who sustained 90 stab wounds, reduced from eight to six years at the Court of Criminal Appeal yesterday. Sergey Strauntinsh was convicted at the Central Criminal Court in March last year of the manslaughter of Aleksandrs Timosejevs at Seville Place, Dublin, on December 21st, 2002.
Ms Justice Fidelma Macken, with Mr Justice Liam McKechnie and Mr Justice Michael Hanna, said the court believed there was an error in principle in the sentence in that it failed to include a reduction arising from the accused's personal circumstances.
Sentence in abuse case adjourned
A Wicklow man who sexually abused two nieces over 30 years ago has had his sentence adjourned by Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill at the Central Criminal Court.
The 55-year-old pleaded guilty to eight sample charges of indecent assault from 47 on the indictment. The assaults occurred between 1970 and 1981.