A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Man acquitted of sex assault charge
A Waterford man has been acquitted of raping and sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend. The 20-year-old accused had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to raping and sexually assaulting the then 16-year-old on January 2nd, 2009. The couple have a young child together.
The jury took 90 minutes to return their unanimous verdict. Mr Justice Barry White discharged the accused from the indictment and said he was free to go.
Cocaine carried in soles of shoes
A man has been sentenced to seven years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after he was caught with almost €62,000 worth of cocaine in the soles of his shoes.
Joel Kanu (43), a Nigerian national, Summer Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possessing the cocaine valued at €61,880 in December 2009.
Judge Desmond Hogan sentenced him to seven years, suspending the final two on condition that he leave Ireland within 48 hours of his release.
Louth man is remanded on bail
A former leading member of the Provisional IRA was arrested last May after gardaí found equipment in Co Laois that they believed was to be used in a counterfeiting operation, the Special Criminal Court has heard.
Anthony Sloan (56), of Ard na Mara, Dundalk, Co Louth, was charged last November with membership of the IRA on October 31st last year.
Mr Justice Paul Butler remanded him on continuing bail until April 15th.
Addict who mugged child charity collectors jailed
A mugger whose victims included three schoolchildren collecting for charity and seven other people in Dublin city centre has been sentenced to four years in prison.
Gary Lawrence (30) committed the majority of the offences while on bail. Judge Yvonne Murphy suspended the final 18 months of the term due to his co-operation with gardaí and his efforts to get off drugs. She ordered that Lawrence go into a secure residential drug-treatment facility on his release.
Lawrence was addicted to the then-legal head shop drug Snow Blow and would inject it into his leg. Caroline Biggs, defending, said Lawrence admitted all the offences and was motivated solely by the need to get more head shop drugs.