More court reports in brief.
'Major' ATM fraudster gets four years
A "major player" in ATM fraud who stole over €25,000 in a week and was caught after trying to avoid a Garda checkpoint has been given a four-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Yanislav Alekandrov (29), a Bulgarian national who has 21 previous convictions, aroused Garda suspicions when he avoided a checkpoint and then told gardaí who searched his car that he had got five cloned cards as "a present".
Alekandrov, of Westend Gate, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to seven counts of using cloned cards to withdraw money from ATMs across Dublin from November 27th to December 3rd, 2007.
He also pleaded guilty to seven counts of having cloned cards, a skimming device and a camera for recording PIN numbers .
Judge Katherine Delahunt said she believed he was a "major player" and was involved in fraud "in a fairly big way" and handed down sentences of three and four years for the various charges to run concurrently.
Home sale order refused by judge
A judge said yesterday he could not in all conscience direct the sale of a 65-year-old woman's home to meet a €9,400 legal costs debt she owes to Dublin Bus.
Judge Michael White had been told in the Circuit Civil Court that Dolores Quinn received €100-a-week carer's allowance on top of her State pension to look after her stroke-victim husband Thomas.
Judge White said he could not in all conscience order the sale of the family home. "I just cannot do it. Common sense should take over here and Mrs Quinn is not a lady of good means," he said.
Judge White adjourned the case for a fortnight to allow Mrs Quinn to obtain a €3,500 loan from her credit union and put the case in for mention on July 28th next.
Jeri Ward, counsel for Dublin Bus, said Mrs Quinn had lost a personal injury claim against the company in 1993 and legal costs of €4,475 had been awarded against her.
"The company has to look after the interests of the taxpayer . . ." Ms Ward said.
Man convicted of attempted rape
A man has been convicted of attempting to rape a Wexford woman two years ago.
Emil Klinczyk (26), with an address at Main Street, Bunclody, Co Wexford, was found guilty by a jury of attempted rape, sexual assault and assault causing harm to the woman in Wexford on July 10th, 2006.
It was day eight of his trial at the Central Criminal Court and the jury deliberated for just under two hours. Mr Justice Paul Butler remanded him in custody for sentence.
Man given chance on gun charge
An apprentice plasterer who turned to heroin after returning from a year in Australia and said he ended up minding a handgun for criminals to repay a so-called "drugs" debt has been given a suspended sentence.
Ronan Allen (29), of Sarsfield Park, Lucan, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of the gun at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court He had no previous convictions.
Judge Patrick McCartan said he was impressed by the testimonials of previous employers that Allen had been attending counselling and had a full-time job.
The judge said "everyone is entitled to one chance if that is possible" and imposed a two-year sentence on strict conditions.
Two charged in cannabis seizure
Two people were brought before Killorglin District Court, Co Kerry, yesterday charged in relation to seizures in Dingle of cannabis resin with a potential value of over €900,000. Both accused were visibly ill in court and had chronic health problems, their solicitors said.
Lisa Basire (37), Scanlon's Cottage, Ballyhea, An Daingean, a UK national, was charged with possession of cannabis resin and with possession for the purposes of sale or supply. The court heard she had been in Ireland "on and off" for 13 years and was addicted to illegal drugs, including cannabis resin, and sold drugs to feed her habit.
Ignacio Goyeneche, (43) from Santander, Spain, was also charged with possession and with possession for purposes of sale or supply of cannabis resin. Judge James O'Connor remanded both accused in custody to Tralee District Court on Wednesday.
Assault case struck out after donation
The case against a man charged with assaulting a member of An Taisce after the organisation objected to his son's development was struck out when he donated €1,000 to charity.
Patrick Mallon, Rathgory, Dunleer, Co Louth, pleaded guilty at Drogheda District Court to assaulting Gerry Crilly, Dunleer, at Barn Road, Battsland, on December 19th, 2007.
Patrick Mallon's son, Louth developer Tony Mallon, was refused permission by An Bord Pleanála last December to build 26 apartments, shops and office units close to Dunleer train station. The development was granted permission by Louth County Council (LCC) but was appealed to An Bord Pleanála by An Taisce.
The case against Patrick Mallon was adjourned to yesterday after Judge Flann Brennan said he would deal leniently with the charge if a donation was made to charity.
Defence solicitor Patrick Branigan confirmed that a €1,000 donation had been made to Drogheda Community Services.
INLA trial moved forward
A Louth man charged with INLA membership will be tried in the Special Criminal Court this November after an application to have his trial moved forward from January next year.
Paul Kelly (44), Cedarwood Park, Cox's Demesne, Dundalk, Co Louth, is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish National Liberation Army, otherwise known as the INLA, on December 20th last year.
Mr Justice Paul Butler, presiding at the three-judge court, granted an application from Mr Kelly's counsel to have his trial date switched with another accused, Barry O'Brien, who was originally to be tried in November and will now be tried next January.
Barry O'Brien (35), Oaktate, Stonetown, Dundalk,
Co Louth, is charged with IRA membership on April 6th, 2004.
Mr Kelly was remanded in custody until November. Mr O'Brien was remanded on bail until January.