A round-up of today's other court stories in brief
Suspended sentence for Fr Ted assailant
A Carraroe man has been given a three-year suspended sentence after he paid €20,000 compensation to another man whom he had assaulted with a pint glass during the Father Ted Festival on Inis Mór two years ago.
Paul O’Sullivan (28), Clybaun Road, Galway, had pleaded guilty before Galway Circuit Criminal Court in March 2009, to pushing a pint glass into the face of Kevin Costello (23) during the “Ted Fest” on Inis Mór on March 2nd, 2008 .
The matter was adjourned for O’Sullivan, who works on an island cargo boat, to pay €20,000 in compensation. The final €5,000 instalment was handed over yesterday.
Garda Damien Walsh had told the initial court hearing that he was the only garda on the island when widespread public disorder erupted. He and his vehicle had been attacked by a drunken mob.
There had been trouble at the 2008 festival because people had been given shots of alcohol by the organisers. He said that practice had stopped and there had been no trouble at any of the festivals since.
Teenager in care missing for 10 days
A teenager in the care of the Health Service Executive has been missing for the last 10 days, a court has heard.
Tallaght District Court had previously heard the teenager’s mother is serving a lengthy sentence in jail.
The teenager’s solicitor, Kevin Tunney, told Judge James McDonnell that he had not seen his client. “He’s not here. I have no excuse.”
A HSE social worker told the court the teenager had been “missing since Thursday a week ago. He is no longer in school.” She said the 17-year- old was recently released from custody in St Patrick’s and had returned to his care home in Co Kildare.
The teenager must stay away from Dundrum, Blackrock and Stepaside and must observe a curfew from 6pm to 8am each day. Judge McDonnell issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
Jailed for six years on gun, car charges
A man who said he was given a day by criminals to come up with €15,000 towards repayment of his drug debt has been jailed for six years by Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after he was caught with a shotgun intending to commit robbery.
Edward McAnaspie (22), Melville View, Finglas, and Sillogue Park, Ballymun, was also sentenced for leading gardaí on a high-speed chase.
McAnaspie pleaded guilty to possession of a shotgun at Coultry Road, Ballymun on March 7th, 2009.
He also pleaded guilty to unlawful taking of a car, possession of a stun gun, dangerous driving and driving without insurance at Dunsink Road, Finglas, on May 25th, 2009, while on bail.
Man pleads not guilty to rape
A Donegal man has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court accused of raping a woman who was too ill to resist after a party.
The man pleaded not guilty to raping and sexually assaulting the 30-year-old woman in a house in Donegal on May 20th, 2007.
The woman gave evidence that she woke up to the accused having sex with her after she and a friend had been at a party with him earlier.
She said she was ill and could not move or speak as he raped her.
She told Alexander Owens SC, prosecuting, that she and a friend had gone to a nightclub and met several people. She said she had about seven vodkas.
The trial continues.