A round up of today's other stories in brief...
Woman arrested at Knock airport
A woman travelling to Australia was not allowed to board a connecting flight at Knock airport earlier this month after refusing to undergo a security check, Ballyhaunis District Court was told yesterday.
Judge Geoffrey Browne heard that on July 6th, Rachel Breen (32), Castlebar, Co Mayo, had to be physically removed from the airport by a garda and was arrested. Ms Breen has since travelled to Australia.
Ms Breen's case, in which she faced a summons for threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour and of refusing to give her name and address to a garda, was dealt with in her absence.
Garda Pauline Murray said the defendant had been "quite agitated", argumentative and unco-operative and became upset when she could not travel. She said Ms Breen had written a letter of apology to her two days after the incident in which she stated she had been upset because she would not see her family again for 18 months.
Solicitor Seán Foley, defending, appealed for leniency and said a criminal conviction would greatly restrict her ability to get tourist visas in the future.
Judge Browne applied the Probation Act but stated that if Ms Breen had acted in this way at an airport in any other country, she would be "thrown in the slammer".
25m pool opens in Killarney
A €16 million leisure centre with a 25-metre swimming pool and an international size basketball court has opened in Killarney, Co Kerry. Plans for a public pool in the tourist town have been 25 years in the pipeline. The centre has gone ahead despite the development of several hotel pools and spas in the meantime.
Funded from capital sports grants, loans and the sale of town centre property to the OPW for the new Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism building, the new Aura Killarney Sports and Leisure centre will compete with up to 14 private pool and gym facilities for membership, but will be larger than most of the private facilities.
Thirty refused access to court
Thirty people were denied access to Catherine Street courthouse in Waterford yesterday when three men were charged in connection with a dispute that has caused much disorder and has left a man in a critical condition.
Gardaí refused entry to the group of Travellers about 12 hours after the sixth arson attack in the city since Saturday.
Willie Burke (22), St Herblain Park, and John Burke (27), Kilcohan Park, appeared in connection with assault causing harm to Christopher Stokes, who is critical but stable in hospital after being assaulted on Saturday. Thomas Quilligan (36), Carrickpherish, was charged with possession of ammunition.
Solicitor Hilary Delahunty was refused a bail application on behalf of his clients.
The three men were remanded in custody by Judge Elizabeth McGrath to appear again on Tuesday.
Man fined for starving dog
A dog-owner who tied up his animal and starved it has been fined €300 and ordered to pay €200 towards the costs of the prosecution.
Donegal District Court was told yesterday that a Lurcher- type dog - which resembles a small greyhound - weighed a paltry 16kg as an 18-month- old puppy when animal welfare inspectors examined it last April 7th.
Within days of being fed properly, its weight began shooting up. Thomas O'Hara (24) denied cruelty to the animal at his home in Carrickbarr, Laghey.
Judge Kevin Kilrane gave the ISPCA possession of the dog, but stopped short of banning O'Hara from owning a dog again.