A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Leave sought to challenge legality of M3
An Taisce will seek permission from the High Court next week to bring an action challenging the legality of the development of M3 motorway near the Hill of Tara. The case could have major implications not just for the M3 but for other proposed road schemes.
It is claimed the National Roads Authority unlawfully approved on March 13th its own tolling scheme for the motorway and now proposes to enter into a public private partnership to that effect without having met the necessary statutory requirements under the Roads Act 1993.
The proposed tolling scheme was prepared despite the opposition of Meath county councillor who must, under law, be consulted about any such plan, it is also claimed.
In pursuing the construction of the M3 in the absence of the necessary approved plan, the Minister for Transport has also acted unlawfully, unreasonably and in excess of his powers, it is also claimed.
The case came before Mr Justice Peter Kelly yesterday via an application by John Rogers SC, for An Taisce. He was seeking leave to bring judicial review proceedings in which various orders and declarations are sought, including that the NRA cannot take any steps for the implementation of a tolling scheme intended to finance the M3 until the draft plan has been prepared and adopted under section 18.
Mr Justice Kelly said that because of the "very wide- ranging" implications of the case and because it could affect contractual obligations regarding the M3, the NRA and the Minister for Transport should be put on notice of the application.
He adjourned the hearing to next Wednesday.
Man convicted of raping teenager
A Cork man has been convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of raping a then 16-year-old girl. Keith Walsh (27), a plasterer, Ardcullen, Hollyhill, was remanded in custody by Ms Justice Maureen Clark for sentence later.
He had denied that he raped the teenager in October 2005 and claimed they had consensual sex. Walsh at first denied to gardaí that he met her that night but later admitted it.
Ms Justice Clark declared him a sex offender.
The victim said she and two girlfriends took a lift from Walsh and his brother. After dropping off one girl they drove out into the countryside. Walsh was "on a buzz" from taking cocaine. His brother and the other girl got out of the car to smoke cannabis and Walsh drove further with her.
Although she was happy to kiss him she told Walsh that there was no need because she was "not going to do anything for him". She said he raped her on the back seat of his car.
Nine years for 46 offences by addict
A drug addict who went on a crime spree for five years, committing 46 offences, has been sentence to nine years by Judge Yvonne Murphy at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Mark Clifford (30), Fettercairn, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to 12 robberies, a number of charges of reckless endangerment and road traffic offences, the unlawful seizure of a BMW and an attempted robbery, between September 2000 and March 2005.
Judge Murphy noted that Clifford was a chronic drug addict, which she said had caused many of his problems and motivated many of his crimes.