A round-up of today's home news in brief
Teenage girl drowns in River Liffey
A teenage girl drowned in the River Liffey yesterday, according to gardaí. The 16-year-old got into difficulty in the water at Wren’s Nest Weir at Strawberry Beds.
A Garda spokesman said the girl was taken to James Connolly Memorial Hospital in Blanchardstown, where she was pronounced dead.
In another incident a child fell into the River Bann in the Co Down village of Hilltown yesterday. Emergency services located the child in the water but the condition of the child was not immediately known. A spokesman for the Fire and Rescue Service the child was taken to hospital.
Murder jury sent home for night
The jury in the trial of a 20-year-old Dublin man accused of attempting to murder his brother-in-law has been sent home for the night after failing to reach a verdict.
Charlie Darcy of Crumlin Park, Crumlin, denies trying to murder Patrick Collins by twice firing a pistol at Mr Collins's head as he lay in bed with his wife (Mr Darcy's sister) and their two-week-old baby.
The jury of six men and six women deliberated for less than an hour before it was sent home by Mr Justice Paul Carney. It will return this morning to complete its deliberations.
Mr Darcy is charged with attempted murder, burglary and aggravated burglary, in entering Cooley Road, Drimnagh, on August 31st, 2008, as a trespasser with the intent to commit murder and having a firearm.
Coach jailed for underage sex
A sports coach who had sex with a 14-year-old girl he was training has been given a three-year jail sentence by Judge Patricia Ryan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The then 20 year old had begun texting the girl and meeting her away from the sports club before they had sex.
He pleaded guilty to having sex with a female under the age of 15 in July 2006. A count of sexual assault was taken into consideration. He cannot be named to protect her identity.
Judge Ryan said the man was in a position of trust and authority and there was an element of “preplanning”.
She imposed a sentence of three years' imprisonment with the final year suspended. She registered him as a sex offender and ordered that he undergo one year of post-release supervision.
Armed raid on Callan post office
A lone raider armed with a handgun escaped with around €4,000 from Callan post office, Co Kilkenny, yesterday morning at 11.15am.
Wearing a black jacket with distinctive red shoulder stripes and a black motorbike helmet painted with flames and silver lines, he held the gun to the head of a woman behind the counter before leaving the premises and driving off in the direction of Clonmel on a red motorbike.
Sgt Gary Gordon of Kilkenny Garda station said staff were shocked by the incident, but had not been harmed physically.
He is appealing for information to gardaí at 056-7775000.
15 months' jail for threat to barman
A WEST Dublin drinker who told a barman he would “do him the favour of not shooting him” if he gave him an extra can of beer for free has been jailed for 15 months by Judge Martin Nolan.
Barry Walsh (22) entered the off-licence section of the bar with another man who produced an imitation firearm when the barman refused to give them an extra can for free. Walsh pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to intimidate at The Lodge public house on the Old Navan Road on August 12th, 2007. Judge Nolan refused a plea to suspend a portion of the sentence and jailed Walsh for 15 months.