More news in brief
A Dublin father and son have gone to the High Court seeking to prevent the Criminal Assets Bureau disposing of more than €285,000 alleged to be the proceeds of drug dealing.
Michael O'Neill (57) and his son Brian (35), of Cloverhill Road, Ballyfermot, are seeking to prevent the disposal by Cab of €137,000 in cash and £102,500 in cash and a bank draft which were seized by the gardaí.
The Cab has stated in affidavits that it believes Mr O'Neill and his son are members of a Dublin-based gang involved in the importation of drugs from the UK. During a search of their home in February 1999 gardaí found heroin, cannabis resin, cash, two sawn-off shotguns, one handgun and a smoke grenade, it was stated.
Gardaí also seized a bank draft for £91,000 when they arrested Mr Michael O'Neill in the car park of a hotel in Dundalk in May 2001, it was stated. Cab alleges Mr O'Neill was attempting to launder the proceeds of his drugs trafficking activities.
The case will come before the High Court again next Tuesday.
High Court judge is nominated
The Government yesterday nominated Brian McGovern, SC for appointment by the President as a Judge of the High Court.
Mr McGovern attended Castleknock College, Dublin, and obtained a Bachelor of Civil Law from University College Dublin in 1971.
He was called to the Bar in 1972 and became a senior counsel in 1991. He has developed an extensive practice in Dublin and the Midland Circuit.
As a senior counsel, he had a mixed practice in civil work, with a speciality in admiralty/maritime work as well as medical negligence, commercial, landlord and tenant and personal injury.
Mr McGovern is currently president of the Irish Maritime Law Association and has represented it at international conferences.
As a junior counsel, Mr McGovern had a varied general practice, and appeared for the DPP in the Circuit Criminal Court, the Central Criminal Court and the Special Criminal Court.
He also represented Total Compagnie Francaise de Navigation at the major inquiry into the sinking of the Betelgeuse at Whiddy Island in 1979.
Jury in halting site case discharged
The jury in the trial of two men accused of trying to murder three others at a halting site on New Year's Day 2005 has been discharged.
Patrick McDonagh and Martin McDonagh, with addresses at Dunsink Lane, Finglas, Dublin, deny the attempted murder of John Gavin, Patrick Paul Gavin and Robert Gavin at St Dominic's Park, Belcamp Lane, Coolock on January 1st, 2005.
The accused also deny causing harm to Robert Gavin and the possession of a double-barrelled shotgun with the intent to endanger life, also at St Dominic's Park on the same date.
At the Central Criminal Court yesterday Mr Justice Kevin O'Higgins discharged the jury following an application made by the McDonaghs' legal representatives, Mr Paul Burns SC, and Mr Martin Giblin SC.
He adjourned the matter until another jury could be sworn. The judge said he was doing this with great reluctance, but things like this happen from time to time.