A round-up of today's other court stories in brief.
Man settles action on fall off scaffolding
A Dublin man who was knocked off a scaffolding tower and fell 25 feet while on a training course has settled his action for damages before the High Court. It is understood the settlement is for a six-figure sum.
Kenneth Kirkwood (39), School Street, had sued Safety Solutions Ltd, Rosemount Business Park, Ballycoolin Road, Dublin, where the accident occurred on September 11th, 2003.
Counsel said Mr Kirkwood had had enormous trouble as a result of his injuries and his life has changed. He had had a number of operations. He needed a crutch at his side to walk and had a bad limp and was also in constant pain.
Woman guilty of cocaine smuggling
An American woman with a Nigerian address who smuggled cocaine valued at almost €200,000 into Dublin airport will be sentenced on December 19th by Judge Desmond Hogan.
Vonnie Mae Davis (34), from Michigan in the United States, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the cocaine valued at €194,992 for sale or supply on November 17th, 2004.
The court heard Customs and Excise officials became suspicious when Davis arrived at the airport claiming to be on her way to meet family but was unable to provide any details. She had flown to Ireland from Lagos via Paris with two suitcases which had hidden compartments containing 2.79 kilos of cocaine.
She told gardaí she had been forced to carry the drugs by two Nigerian men she met through her Nigerian boyfriend.
The court heard Davis, a mother of three, met a Nigerian man via the internet and married him in his country in 2004. The marriage lasted two months and she then began a relationship with another Nigerian man.
Man jailed for drug smuggling
A Nigerian student who carried cocaine valued at €381,000 into Ireland has been jailed for seven years by Judge Frank O'Donnell at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Omoniyi Odeyemi (22), Barking Road, London, carried three passports - two Nigerian and one English. Odeyemi pleaded guilty to having the cocaine for sale or supply on December 2nd, 2004.
Labourer in court on rape charge
An East European labourer has been remanded in custody following his appearance before Galway District Court yesterday charged with rape. The 24-year-old man, who may not be named for legal reasons, was arrested in Mullingar.
Judge Mary Fahy remanded him in custody to appear before Galway District Court on Wednesday next.
Woman had cocaine for supply
A woman whose trial was conducted with the aid of a Spanish interpreter has been found guilty by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury of having cocaine for sale or supply.
Arcelis Santos (42), with an address at Hofgerrt, Amsterdam, was convicted of having the cocaine valued at €23,520 at Leeson Street, Dublin, on October 2nd, 2004. Judge Michael White remanded her in continued custody for mention of the case on December 9th, when a sentence date will be set.
Girl who stole hair dye fined
A teenage girl, who stole hair dye from a shop and later abandoned her baby at a Dart station when she was pursued by gardaí, has been fined €100.
The 17-year-old mother of one, originally from Romania, was convicted at the Dublin Children's Court in July for the theft from a pharmacy at Westland Row, Dublin, on May 5th. She was also found guilty of a breach of the peace at Pearse Dart station on the same date.