A round-up of today's other court stories in brief
Court to hear asylum seeker challenge
A challenge to a decision to have 11 asylum seekers moved yesterday to Bantry, Co Cork - in what is allegedly an effort to distance them from their lawyers and supportive communities - will come before the High Court next week.
Lawyers for the asylum seekers raised the case before Mr Justice Frank Clarke yesterday. The judge adjourned the matter to Friday next. In the interim, an undertaking on behalf of the Minister for Justice was given to the effect that if any of the 11 returned to the Hatch Hall asylum seekers' reception centre in Dublin, they would be allowed to re-enter their rooms.
Sentencing later for riot damage
A ninth man has been remanded for sentence after admitting his role in a riot at St Patrick's Institution in the grounds of Mountjoy Prison two years ago.
John Kinlan (21), of Johnstown Gardens, Ballygall Road, Finglas, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to causing damage to security nets on February 28th, 2004.
Heroin dealer loses appeal
A drug dealer serving a 12-year term for possession of heroin valued at €750,000 lost his appeal against conviction yesterday.
James Bowes (40), River Forest, Leixlip, Co Kildare, was convicted in July 2004 by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of possession of 5kg of heroin for sale or supply on April 3rd, 2000.
Car examined after Beit heist
A car belonging to a woman who denies handling stolen paintings from the Beit collection at Russborough House was taken by gardaí for forensic examination six months after the theft.
Det Garda Eric McGovern, a crime scene investigator, told Dominic McGinn, prosecuting, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that he examined the Nissan 100 NX.
Rosemary Quinn (48), St Aongus Park, Tallaght, has denied handling the paintings, Madame Baccelli by Thomas Gainsborough and A View of Florence by Bernardo Bellotto, on June 26th, 2001.
The paintings have been valued at €2.6 million.
Rapist has jail term reduced
A Donegal man jailed for the rape of his teenage daughter has lost his appeal against conviction but had his nine-year sentence reduced to seven years by the Court of Criminal Appeal yesterday.
Father of eight Desmond Morrison (59), Ballyboe, Rathmullan, was convicted in July 2004 of raping his then 16-year-old daughter in 1996. At that trial, the court was told the girl wanted her father named in the media. Yesterday Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman ruled the judge had not taken sufficient account of Morrison's age, his lack of previous convictions or the health of Morrison and his wife.