Former bus driver John Byrne was unsuccessful yesterday in his claim that he was entitled to the prize of a Toyota Corolla which he believed he had won.
Judge Frank O'Donnell heard Mr Byrne, of Collins Park, Beaumont, Dublin, was told his was the winning ticket of the car in the Dublin Bus Football Club's December 1999 draw.
But organisers decided they could not let Mr Byrne claim the car due to a clause in the rules of the monthly competition. He sued the football club for the car or its €14,600 equivalent value.
Judge O'Donnell was told that earlier that year Mr Byrne had left the employment of Dublin Bus under an income continuance insurance policy, due to an injury.
Mr Byrne told Mr Ronan Dolan, counsel for the Football Club, that when he left Dublin Bus, the cost of the £100 ticket had not been fully paid in agreed weekly deductions to the competition organisers, as he still owed £40. But he said he had been willing to pay the shortfall to claim his prize.
Judge O'Donnell agreed with Mr Dolan that the cruel but "clear-cut" clause ruled against him being able to legally claim the prize.
Judge O'Donnell awarded costs against Mr Byrne.
Accused granted time in rape trial
The trial of a north Dublin man, defending himself against a rape charge, has been adjourned to allow him time to seek legal counsel to deliver a closing speech.
Mr Justice Daniel Herbert told a Central Criminal Court jury that he knew of no law prohibiting the accused's 11th hour bid.
He was due to speak after Ms Mary Rose Gearty BL read her speech yesterday, but decided he would prefer professional assistance. "This is what justice requires to be done," said Justice Herbert.
The accused had discharged his legal team on day eight of a 10-day hearing and called several witnesses in his own defence.
He has pleaded not guilty to raping and falsely imprisoning a woman in her west Dublin home on August 24th, 2001, and to burglary of the house and theft of a mobile phone and cash on the same occasion.
Justice Herbert told the jury of sex men and six women that they could ask Ms Gearty to deliver her speech again before the defence addresses them.
The prosecution had presented forensic evidence placing the accused at the scene along with statements taken by gardaí in which he admitted raping the woman.
The hearing will continue on November 2nd.
€60,000 research grants awarded
Two students have been awarded funding of over €60,000 to carry out disability research through the National Disability Authority's postgraduate research scholarships.
Ms Edel Quirke from Navan, Co Meath, will undertake a PhD at Trinity College Dublin, looking at the rights element of mental health legislation.
Ms Sharon McGreevy will explore the social, financial, attitudinal and economic barriers to entrepreneurship for people with disabilities. She will complete the PhD at the Institute of Art, Design & Technology in Dún Laoghaire.
Ms Claire O'Connor, director of the National Disability Authority, said more research on disability issues was needed at postgraduate and PhD level, saying these findings will provide valuable insight into the everyday challenges faced by disabled people.