Gardai seized cannabis resin with a street value of €2.5 million from a lorry in Co Meath yesterday. The lorry was stopped at Newtown Commons, Ashbourne, and 200 kilos of cannabis resin was found. A man was arrested under the Drugs Trafficking Act.
Stab case accused refused bail
A man charged with assaulting and causing harm to another man, who died of stab wounds at the weekend, was refused bail yesterday. Mr William O'Connor (31), St John's Terrace, Kinsale, Co Cork, was charged in connection with the death of Mr Richard Daly (25) at Tower Street, Cork, on Sunday. Mr Daly was stabbed in the chest during a row in the Tower Street apartment which he shared with his partner. The couple have one child.
At Cork District Court yesterday, Judge Uinsean Mac Gruairc refused a bail application on Mr O'Connor's behalf after Det Garda Gerard O'Mahony objected on the grounds that he might not remain in the jurisdiction and that witnesses might be interfered with.
Ryanair judgment tomorrow
The High Court will give its judgment tomorrow on an action for damages by a woman who has claimed Ryanair reneged on its pledge to give her free flights for life after she became the airline's one millionth passenger in 1988.
Ms Jane O'Keeffe (35), a mother of two children, Leopardstown Heights, Dublin, claims that nine years after winning the prize she was told by the company's managing director, Mr Michael O'Leary: "Who do you think you are, ringing up demanding flights?"
€20,660 damages award
A retired civil servant has been awarded €20,660 damages in the Circuit Civil Court for whiplash injuries received when hit from behind in a three-car pile up. Mr Oisín Quinn, counsel for Ms Jane Keating, St John's Close, Dún Laoghaire, told the court his client was stationary in a tail-back of traffic when struck by a car driven by Ms Caroline Lyons, Cherry Hill, Ballybrack, Co Dublin.
He said Ms Keating was just about to get out of her car when it was struck again, this time as a result of Mr Jake O'Reilly, Store Street, Dublin, having driven into the rear of Ms Lyons's car. The Circuit Court president, Mr Justice Esmond Smyth, held Ms Lyons and Mr O'Reilly each 50 per cent responsible for the collision. Ms Lyons was awarded €7,900 for damage and injury against Mr O'Reilly.
Jury sent to hotel overnight
The jury in the trial of a youth accused of the rape and murder of a young woman were sent to a hotel last night after three hours' deliberation failed to produce verdicts. The 18-year-old accused man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denies the rape and murder of Ms Rachel Kiely (22) at the Regional Park, Ballincollig, Co Cork, on October 26th, 2000.
Man's sentence suspended
A man who became involved in a shooting incident has been given a 12-month suspended sentence by Judge Elizabeth Dunne at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Sandro Dambrosio (27), Tyreconnell Road, Inchicore, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm without a certificate and to aiding and abetting the escape of a co-accused last July 17th.
Manslaughter charge denied
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Mr Ronan McGrath (19), Castleknock, Dublin, and Mr Fergal Cagney (20), Kilteely, Co Limerick, have pleaded not guilty to unlawfully killing Mr David Langan (19) on August 30th, 2000.The trial is due to start this morning.