A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Two jailed for attempting to import drugs
Two Co Down men who attempted to bring €40,000 worth of cannabis on a flight from Amsterdam have each been given three-year sentences by Judge Patrick McCartan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Mark McGrath (26), Ardcarne Drive, Newry, and Stephen Rice (29), Carrick Ree, Warrenpoint, claimed they were forced to import the drugs to pay off a cocaine debt or would have faced "serious physical harm".
Judge McCartan noted it was a first-time offence for both and apologised for jailing them but said he had no choice as the Court of Criminal Appeal would likely overturn his sentence if he didn't impose a custodial punishment.
He suspended the final 21 months of their sentences for three years on strict conditions.
Former soldier assaulted girl
A 48-year-old former soldier, who was involved in a youth group, has been remanded on bail after he pleaded guilty to 12 sample counts of sexually assaulting a young girl over a three-year period at his home, writes Barry Roche.
David McGlone, formerly of Leeview, Ballincollig, Co Cork, pleaded guilty at Cork District Court yesterday to the 12 counts of sexually assaulting the girl, who was aged eight to 11 at the time, between January 1st, 1998, and December 31st, 2000, at his home.
McGlone's solicitor, Eddie Burke, told Judge David Riordan that his client had been receiving psychotherapy since these offences were reported and gardaí launched an investigation over a year ago.
Judge Riordan adjourned sentencing until June 11th to allow for a probation report on the defendant while he also expressed hope that the complainant, who is now 17, would speak to a probation officer so her views could be reported back to the court before sentencing.
Former garda cleared of attack
A former garda has been found not guilty of assaulting a photographer in Waterford.
Anthony Fennelly (40), Moonvoy Bridge, Tramore, appeared in court yesterday in connection with the alleged assault of freelance photographer Dylan Vaughan at the courthouse in Waterford in November 2006.
The former traffic corps garda at that time appeared at the court charged with trespassing at his next-door neighbour's house in Moonvoy Bridge. He was cleared of these charges.
Footage supplied by RTÉ in evidence and shown at the assault trial yesterday showed the father of two entering through the rear entrance doors of the courthouse on the afternoon of November 3rd, 2006.
An altercation ensued, which resulted in Mr Vaughan receiving an injury to his eye, while his camera was knocked to the floor.
Finding that Mr Fennelly had not acted illegally, Judge Liz McGovern said the accused "clearly hit at the camera" and not at Mr Vaughan.
Family sues building firm
The family of a boy, who died following burn injuries sustained when a container of liquid exploded on a building site, yesterday began legal action against a construction firm for the shock that the boy's siblings suffered as a result of his death.
Stephen Long (9) died after suffering severe burn injuries while playing on a building site in Mount Oval village belonging to O'Flynn Construction at Clarke's Hill, Rochestown in Cork on September 9th, 2001.
A legal action by Stephen's sister Aisling (18) and brother Ian (14) for compensation against O'Flynn Construction for the nervous shock that they suffered over their brother's death opened at the High Court in Cork before Mr Justice Éamon de Valera.
O'Flynn Construction admits liability but contests the issue of entitlement to compensation for nervous shock. The case continues.