A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Man charged over deaths of garda, fireman
A man has been charged in connection with the deaths of a garda and a fireman in a road collision in Co Limerick on February 25th.
Garda Brian Kelleher (46) and fireman Michael Liston (47) were helping to clear a crash scene outside Foynes when they were killed.
At Rathkeale District Court in Newcastlewest, Niall Shannon (19), Ballylongford, Co Kerry, was charged yesterday with dangerous driving causing the deaths of both men at Barrigone.
He was previously charged with drink driving and driving with a bald tyre on the same night.
Judge Mary O'Halloran granted free legal aid.
Animal cruelty case adjourned
The case against a woman facing 16 summonses for animal cruelty was adjourned at Dundalk District Court yesterday after the judge heard she had lodged with the Supreme Court an appeal relating to the animals.
The charges against Donna Sfar, Oaklawns, Dundalk, relate to 18 dogs in March this year. The offences are alleged to have taken place at Balriggan, Kilcurry, Dundalk.
The case was adjourned to February.
Ahern's Arranmore absence noted
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's regular attendances at Manchester United matches were yesterday compared with his failure to visit Arranmore island, a 20- minute ferry ride from the coast of Co Donegal.
Solicitor Paddy Sweeney told Dungloe District Court: "All the time he has been going to Old Trafford, he never in 20 years, either as a minister or Taoiseach, came to see the 500 or 600 residents of Arranmore."
Mr Sweeney was defending a returned emigrant, Patrick McGowan (73), Poolawaddy, Arranmore. Mr McGowan has admitted driving without insurance, driving licence, tax or NCT.
Previous courts have been told there was a tradition on Arranmore of not having insurance and other motoring documents because of the state of the roads and because there was no full-time garda there.
Prosecutions have been brought in recent months against Arranmore drivers after gardaí maintained their first full-time presence on the island last summer.
Judge Desmond A Zaidan gave Mr McGowan and Tony Boyle (69), who admitted similar offences last April, the Probation Act when they agreed to donate €500 each to the Arranmore Lifeboat fund.
Tribute paid to Cork solicitor
Tributes have been paid in court to one of the best-known lawyers in Munster. Solicitor Eugene Carey (52), Mallow, Co Cork, died last week following an illness.
Judge Michael Pattwell led the tributes at yesterday's sitting of Mallow District Court, noting that he always seemed to be in a good mood while at the same time fighting his corner on behalf of his client with skill and determination.
Tributes were also paid by Supt Pat McCarthy, court registrar Paul Cosgrave and solicitors Matt Bermingham and Charlie O'Connor.