A roundup of today's other court stories in brief
DPP seeks screens for witnesses in arms trial
The Director of Public Prosecutions yesterday applied for an order allowing the installation of screens to protect the identity of two witnesses at the trial of two men charged in connection with a firearms conspiracy, writes Barry Roche, Southern Correspondent.
Senior counsel Tom O'Connell told Judge Patrick Moran at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that the DPP was seeking to have screens erected at the trial of Glen Geasley (27), and Seán Callinan (21), so that two prosecution witnesses would be visible to the accused, the jury and the judge but shielded from the public to protect their identities.
Mr Geasley, Innishmore Drive, Ballincollig, Co Cork, is charged with conspiring with others between February 22nd and April 20th, 2007, to commit crime through possession of some 24 weapons which would enable any other person to endanger life contrary to common law.
Mr Callinan, Pearse Park, Tullamore, Co Offaly, is charged with attempting to possess the same 24 weapons at the Hotel Ibis at Dunkettle, Glanmire, Co Cork, on April 20th, 2007, in such a situation as would give rise to a reasonable inference that possession of the weapons would not be for a lawful purpose.
Judge Moran granted the application to allow the courtroom be organised to allow for the erection of screens but said it would be a matter for the trial judge to determine whether the witnesses could give evidence from behind the screens.
High Court to rule on legality of rearrest
The High Court is to rule today on a challenge to the legality of the rearrest last Friday of a Dublin man shortly after the court had ruled his detention was unlawful.
Eamonn Dunne (31), Dunsoughly Drive, Ratoath Road, Finglas, has been charged in connection with an attempted robbery of a cash-in-transit van in Co Kildare last November. He was released last Friday after Mr Justice John Edwards found his detention was unlawful but was rearrested by gardaí outside the court.
Court upholds guns and drugs sentence
The Court of Criminal Appeal has upheld a seven-year prison sentence imposed on a Limerick man for possession of drugs worth €500,000 and what gardaí described as "a vast arsenal" of weapons, including submachine guns, pistols and stun guns.
Aidan Radmall (36), originally from Corbally, Limerick, was alleged to have acted as "a runner" for a criminal gang in Limerick.
A separated father of six, with addresses in Clonile, Old Cratloe Road, Limerick, and Bay View Apartments, Kilkee, Co Clare, he was sentenced to seven years in jail at Limerick Circuit Court after pleading guilty to drugs and firearms charges. The DPP appealed the sentence on the grounds that it was unduly lenient.