More news in brief
A drug addict who broke into the home of an elderly man and "savagely" attacked him has been given an eight- year sentence by Judge Donagh McDonagh at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Gerard Meleady (28), Casino Park, Donnycarney, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, false imprisonment and assault causing harm to Matthias Keeley (96) in July 2004.
Judge McDonagh said the "godfathers of the trade" had a lot to answer for after hearing from Luigi Rea, defending, that Meleady started using cannabis and ecstasy at 12 before moving to heroin at 13.
Judge McDonagh said Meleady was lucky he was not facing a murder charge before sentencing him to eight years in prison but suspending the last year having taken into account his early guilty plea.
Woman bit taxi driver, court told
A woman who has sued for damages after allegedly being severely assaulted by gardaí during a Reclaim the Streets rally in Dublin agreed at the High Court yesterday that she bit a taxi driver after a disagreement.
Annette Ryan said she did so to defend herself during a dispute with the driver over a bottle of wine she spilled in the cab.
Ms Ryan (39), a mother of one, Kevin Street, Dublin, has sued the Garda Commissioner, Ireland and the Attorney General over the alleged assault on May 6th, 2002. She also claims she was ordered to strip naked in a Garda station.
Ms Ryan was student union president of the National College of Art and Design at the time of the alleged assault.
Asked about a particular incident yesterday while under cross-examination by Conor Maguire SC, for the State, the jury heard Ms Ryan had a bottle of wine in her handbag which spilt.
The taxi driver asked Ms Ryan for a soilage fee. She said a "disagreement" followed and she tried to get out of the car. The court was told the taxi driver brought Ms Ryan to Pearse Street Garda station. She agreed she initially did not give her correct details. This was because she was "in fear".
Ms Ryan said she went back to the Garda station next day and gave the correct details. The case continues before Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne and a jury.
Pizza delivery woman attacked
A former heroin addict rang a Chinese takeaway so he could rob the delivery woman, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The caller requested that the delivery person bring enough money to change a €100 note.
Gary Stokes (23), Whitestown Avenue, Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty to robbery of Ludmela Wilson at Leixlip, Co Kildare, on October 2004.
Stokes had one previous conviction for common assault and used the money to buy heroin. Giollaiosa Ó Lideadha, defending, said his client had "sickened himself by his actions" and had taken "radical action" to transform his life.
Mr Ó Lideadha described the offence as "nasty, mean and sneaky" and said Stokes was remorseful.
Garda Altan Tansey said the likelihood of Stokes reoffending was low, that he had the offer of a place on a social studies course at NUI Maynooth and did work in the community for Narcotics Anonymous.
He had seen the level to which he could descend and had taken his life in hand. Judge Katherine Delahunt said the change in Stokes's life since the offence was remarkable and she deferred sentencing until next year.