A round-up of today's other court cases in brief.
Longer term for 'horrific' rape rejected
The Court of Criminal Appeal has rejected arguments by the DPP that a nine-year sentence imposed on a man for the "horrific" rape of a prostitute during a 10-hour ordeal in a disused railway carriage in Dublin's Heuston Station was "unduly lenient".
Martin Stafford (39), Cork Street, Dublin 8, had pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court in February 2007 to raping the then 28-year-old victim on March 10th/11th 2005.
In its reserved decision yesterday, the three-judge appeal court dismissed the DPP's appeal.
Mr Justice Geoghegan, presiding, said that the crime was "horrific". However, there was "concrete evidence" before Mr Justice Carney that Stafford was making genuine attempts at self-rehabilitation in relation to his drug problem.
New trial date for boxing champion
Former world boxing champion Steve Collins has had a new trial date set at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in relation to an alleged assault at the National Boxing Stadium.
Mr Collins (42) of St Albans, Hertfordshire, is charged with assaulting Mr Adrialik Voda causing him harm at the National Boxing Stadium, South Circular Road, on June 3rd, 2006.
Judge Katherine Delahunt remanded him on continuing bail until his trial in November.
Two years for 'Love Ulster' riots
A Donegal man who "freely admitted" to a radio journalist on the day of the Love Ulster parade riots that he had thrown rocks at gardaí has been given a two-year sentence.
Declan Ward (24) of Tubberkeen, Dungloe, told a Newstalk reporter that he had been in Dublin city centre that day because he was "politically motivated to do so".
Ward pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to violent disorder on February 25th, 2006.
Judge Katherine Delahunt suspended the last 18 months of the sentence on the condition that on his release Ward remain at the family home in Donegal as carer of his father and grandfather and that he continue to get treatment for his alcohol addiction.
€2,000 fine for damaging bridge
An elderly driver who caused the collapse of a footbridge onto the Swords M1 bypass after hitting it with his lorry, has been fined €2,000. Patrick Matthews (70), was followed by gardaí trying to warn him the bed of his tipper truck was extended but were unable to alert him before it struck an empty footbridge, causing €170,000 damage and blocking the road for six hours. Matthews pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving on the Swords bypass on June 15, 2006. His guilty plea came just after a jury had been sworn in for his trial.
Man interfered with trial witness
A man has been convicted of interfering with the principal prosecution witness in an attempted murder trial to try to persuade him not to give evidence at the trial of the man who had shot him.
David Goulding (30), of Whitechapel Grove, Clonsilla, was found guilty of trying to persuade Akef Alquasar not to give evidence at the trial of Darren Larkin, who had shot him at the Blanchardstown Leisureplex two years ago.