A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Suspended sentence for sexual assault
A Mayo man has been given a three-year suspended sentence by Mr Justice Barry White at the Central Criminal Court for sexually assaulting a woman in Longford after both had "made a day of it drinking".
Zeno Higgins (33), a construction worker, Carantulla, Claremorris, Co Mayo, pleaded guilty in October to sexually assaulting the woman on September 2nd, 2006.
Garda Muiris Quinn told Deirdre Murphy SC, prosecuting, that Higgins had a series of previous convictions which were generally drink-related.
Brendan Grehan SC, defending, said Higgins had €7,000 in court to offer his victim as a token of his remorse and had asked him to convey his sorrow for his assault, which seemed to have exacerbated her long-term difficulties.
The victim impact statement showed she had attempted suicide a number of times and had a history of alcohol dependence and depression.
Mr Justice White said the nature of the assault was "at the lower end of the spectrum" and he accepted that Higgins's apology and remorse were genuine.
Two new Corrib pipeline options
Two further options for the onshore Corrib Gas pipeline have been outlined by RPS, the firm of consultants appointed by Shell E&P Ireland to facilitate the identification of a new pipeline route, writes Tom Shiel.
One of the proposed corridors limits the distance the controversial pipeline would traverse intact blanket bog in Rossport, while the second limits the distance that the pipeline traverses Sruwaddacon Bay.
All of the corridors, according to RPS, are farther away from housing than the original pipeline route.
A public consultation period on the issue ends on January 18th.
Warrant issued for man in rape trial
A bench warrant for the arrest of a foreign national formerly resident in Co Clare has been issued by Mr Justice Barry White at the Central Criminal Court.
The 46-year-old man, who was on bail, failed to appear for his scheduled trial for allegedly raping a woman in Ennis three years ago.
Six-year licence ban for 'boy racer'
A young driver with 12 previous motoring offences lost his licence yesterday for six years for his part in forcing a young mother to push her eight- month-old daughter to safety.
Fionnuala Green told Dungloe District Court, Co Donegal, how she heard cars approaching the bend at very high speed. "I stopped to push the pram on to the grass and seconds later the two cars came around the bend at very high speed."
The driver of the leading car has admitted an offence and is to be sentenced next year. The driver of the second car, Alan Lynch (21) denied careless driving in court yesterday.
Judge Thomas Fitzpatrick said the two "were the typical boy racers . . . Here we have a young man who really shouldn't be driving at all. I won't allow him to drive for some considerable time."