More news in brief
A "functioning alcoholic and drug user" who boasted in a pub that he had a semi-automatic pistol has been given a 15 year prison sentence by Judge Frank O'Donnell who described him as "a danger to society". Paul McGrath (48), with addresses in Killarney Street Dublin and at Castle Court, Killgobbin Wood, Stepaside, Co Dublin, made his gun boast in the Gallops Pub, Leopardstown Valley, Co Dublin.
Gardaí found he had the 9 mm weapon along with 10 rounds of ammunition and €30 worth of cocaine and cannabis.
A silencer was found in his home as well as another small quantity of cannabis, valued at €336.
Six months later he was found with a double barrelled sawn-off shotgun and 12 cartridges after Garda Peter Egan caught him running from the scene of a burning car .
Girl kicked man lying on ground
A teenage girl, who after drinking a litre of vodka, repeatedly kicked a man in the stomach while he lay on the ground being simultaneously attacked by four others, has been given a six-month suspended sentence.
The girl (17) had been found guilty of assaulting a 23-year-old US man, at Dublin's Aston Quay, on March 13 last. Judge Bryan Smyth described the gang attack as "quite appalling."
The victim said he had been robbed on Westmoreland Street by three men who had taken his wallet. He followed them to ask for his property back when he was struck from behind and set on by the men at which point the girl joined in the attack.
"I was punched and kicked by the group of five or six, she was one of the ones involved in the kicking and punching I was on the ground most of the time," he told the court."
He added that he thought the girl kicked him in the stomach six times and then went through his pockets.
Jury in rape trial sent to hotel
The jury in the trial of an alleged "Satan worshipper" charged with raping a teenage girl in his bedroom in a Mayo town three years ago has been sent to a hotel overnight.
Mr Justice Peter Charleton sent the jury away on day four of the trial at the Central Criminal Court and directed that it should only begin its deliberations this morning .
The 20-year-old accused has pleaded not guilty to five charges of rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, false imprisonment and assault causing harm on May 3rd, 2004.
Drug dealer jailed for seven years
A 19-year-old father of one who had cocaine valued at nearly €34,000 in his Co Dublin home has been sentenced to seven years by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Trevor Cogley, Mooretown Park, Swords, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine weighing nearly half-a-kilo for sale or supply on July 13th, 2006.
Man paid to hold cocaine jailed
A man who was paid €200 to hold over €32,000 worth of cocaine has been sentenced to six years by Judge Patricia Ryan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Eamon Tyrrell (27) Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine in Fairview, Dublin, on July 31st, 2005.