In Short

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Man (21) jailed for trespassing

A man, who trespassed on Newcastle hospital and frightened a staff nurse in January this year, was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment at Wicklow District Court sitting in Bray yesterday.

Daryl Porter (21), Cronebane, Avoca, was also sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment for trespass and trying to gain entry to a building at Greenane Road, Ballygannon, Rathdrum, in December last year.

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Solicitor David Tarrant said his client had an extreme alcohol problem. Porter, who has 16 previous convictions, smashed a window of the post office in Rathdrum on December 14th last year and received three months’ jail for criminal damage. He was also sentenced to three months for resisting arrest and for taking beer from a shop in Rathdrum last year.

Transsexual tells of dismissal case

A transsexual who was awarded more than € 35,000 compensation for workplace discrimination has spoken of her relief that the case ended successfully, writes Charlie Taylor.

Louise Hannon (50), Arbour Hill, Dublin, brought a case against First Direct Logistics in which she alleged she had been constructively dismissed when she revealed her gender identity and sought to live according to it in her workplace.

"I think that including diversity in the mix makes for a very good company and one which will be much more productive," she said.

31 patients moved after chemical alert

Some 31 patients were temporarily moved from a ward of St Luke's General Hospital in Co Kilkenny following a chemical scare yesterday afternoon, writes Luke Cassidy.

The incident happened shortly after 1.15pm when a chemical reaction in a bin containing cleaning agents caused alarm over the spreading of fumes. The patients were moved as a precaution and the services of the fire brigade were sought.

Fire services were able to remove it from the hospital before treating it outside by pouring copious amounts of water on it.