More news in brief
The Supreme Court has reserved judgment on an appeal by Co Louth man Michael McKevitt against his conviction for directing terrorist activities.
Following a four-day hearing, the court yesterday reserved its decision on the appeal by McKevitt against his conviction by the non-jury Special Criminal Court in August 2003 for organising terrorist activities for the Real IRA. He is serving a 20-year sentence for the offence.
Man jailed for stabbing
A Balbriggan man who "acted excessively in self defence" by stabbing a man in the leg and breaking glass in his face on the beach, has been given a three-year sentence by Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Niall Murphy (21), of Tara Court, told gardaí he was "out of his head" on drink and drugs when he assaulted the victim after being punched in the face by him during a fight at Balbriggan beach.
Murphy pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on July 17th, 2006.
Judge Nolan imposed a sentence of three years imprisonment with the final two years suspended.
Cocaine sold to undercover gardaí
A father of four who twice sold cocaine to undercover gardaí has been sentenced to two years in prison by Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Miguel Pintos (27), Coultry Way, Ballymun pleaded guilty to possession of €300 worth of the drugs on September 28th and October 3rd, 2006. The court was told Pintos was now drug free. Judge Hogan suspended the last 12 months of the sentence.
Fast food chain in row over access
A dispute in which McDonald's fast food restaurant chain claims it is being forced to trade in "unacceptable conditions" from its Ilac Centre restaurant in Dublin is to go to mediation, the Commercial Court was told yesterday.
The row is between McDonald's Restaurants of Ireland Ltd against Irish Life Assurance plc and Joseph O'Reilly, Cnoc Ard, Kerrymount Avenue, Foxrock, Dublin.
McDonald's claims that, under a lease with Irish Life, it is entitled to have a shop front visible to customers from Parnell Street and that it was intended customers would have direct access to the premises from Parnell Street.
Gardaí to search for thief's parents
Gardaí have been given more time to track down and arrest the parents of a teenage thief who have repeatedly failed to attend their son's hearings in the Dublin Children's Court.
The 17-year-old boy, who is originally from Romania, had pleaded guilty earlier to the theft of a man's wallet, in Dublin's Temple Bar, last July. Parents of juvenile defendants are obliged to attend their children's cases in the criminal courts under the 2001 Children Act.