A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Defrocked priest pleads guilty to indecent assault
of two victims
A former priest has admitted in court to indecently assaulting two victims in the 1970s and 1980s.
Tony Walsh (56) of Bunratty Road, Coolock, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of indecently assaulting a male in a west Dublin church between November 1978 and April 1979. He pleaded guilty to a further charge of indecently assaulting a male in a west Dublin school between January 1984 and December 1985.
Judge Patricia Ryan vacated two pending trial dates for the defrocked priest and remanded him in custody to face sentence by Judge Frank O’Donnell on Monday.
She also lifted reporting restrictions on Walsh’s identity. Restrictions on the victims’ names remain in place.
Deal on North Sea electricity grid
A memorandum of understanding on a North Sea electricity grid is to be announced by Ireland and nine other countries in northwestern Europe today, writes Tim O'Brien.
The North Seas Countries Offshore Grid Initiative will link the electricity grids of nine EU states and Norway.
The project would provide for connections from some of the €300 billion worth of offshore wind farms planned for the area.
The countries involved are Britain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, Denmark, Sweden, Ireland and Norway.
The project aims to enhance European energy security by providing a market for renewable energy exports.
Four-year ban for driving on drugs
A youth has been given a four-year driving ban and fined €50 for driving after he took tranquillisers.
The 17-year-old pleaded guilty at the Children’s Court to driving while under the influence of an intoxicant on May 15th last.