A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Woman (20) denies murder charge
A young woman has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the murder of teenage mother of two Emma McLoughlin (19), who was stabbed to death in Laytown, Co Meath, last year.
Kelly Noble (20), Seaview, Laytown, denied the murder outside a supermarket at Ninch in the town on June 2nd, 2006.
She also denied a second charge of unlawfully producing a knife in the course of a dispute or a fight, in a manner likely to inflict injury. A jury has been sworn in to hear the case which is due to begin on Thursday. Mr Justice Paul Carney said it could last up to three weeks. Ex-farmer jailed for sex assault
A retired Co Kerry farmer who sexually assaulted a six- year-old girl after convincing her to get into his car has been jailed for 12 months and placed on the sex offender register by Judge Katherine Delahunt.
Patrick Bowler (78), Gortmore, Baile an Fheirteirigh, who admitted sexually assaulting the girl in August 2004, pleaded with Judge Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court not to send him to prison.
The judge accepted that Bowler had had a drinking problem at the time but said that "may be an explanation but it will be never be accepted by way of an excuse". She said it was fortunate that the child seemed to have recovered from the experience.
Meath drug dealer jailed for 10 years
A Co Meath drug dealer has been sentenced to 10 years at the Circuit Criminal Court after he was caught on CCTV handing over a bag of more than 25,000 ecstasy tablets to a motorcyclist.
William Roche (29), Cooney Hall, Mornington, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having ecstasy with a street value of €250,000 for sale or supply in July 2005.
Judge Katherine Delahunt said that as Roche was not an addict and because he was involved for commercial gain, the offence was not at the lower end of the scale.
Addict remanded for sentencing
A cocaine addict, who carried out an armed raid on a bank to get money to pay back drug dealers for a haul that had been confiscated from him by gardaí, has been remanded in custody.
William Treacy (24), Markievicz House, Townsend Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the robbery of the Bank of Ireland, Pearse Street, on January 2nd, 2006.
He also admitted to possession of €5,927 worth of cocaine for sale or supply on November 22nd, 2005.
Referee awarded €5,000 in damages
A soccer referee who claimed he was prevented from refereeing in Co Roscommon because he was a Traveller was yesterday awarded €5,000 in compensation.
Former Longford Town player Robert Stokes successfully argued he was not allowed to join the Roscommon branch of the Irish Soccer Referees Society because he was a member of the Travelling community.
Mary Rogerson of the Equality Tribunal ruled that Mr Stokes was denied the chance to referee matches because he was a Traveller.
Derry judge warns man over drugs
A sales executive, who currently lives in Co Donegal but previously lived in Derry, was warned by a judge at Derry Crown Court yesterday that he would "go straight to jail" if he was caught with drugs within the next five years.
John McConnell (29), Lisfannon, Buncrana, admitted possessing 266g of herbal cannabis with intent to supply after a suspicious package was intercepted at post office sorting in Derry.
Judge Corinne Philpott sentenced McConnell to 18 months in jail but suspended it for four years.