In Short

A round up of today's other stories in brief...

A round up of today's other stories in brief...

Man charged with INLA membership

A Northern Ireland man arrested as part of a Garda Special Branch investigation into INLA activity in Dublin was charged at a special sitting of the Special Criminal Court last night with membership of the terrorist organisation.

Declan Duffy (34), a native of Armagh city, with an address at Hanover Street West, Dublin, was charged with membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish National Liberation Army, otherwise the INLA, on June 22nd.

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Det Sgt Marilyn Brosnan, of the Special Detective Unit, Harcourt Square, gave evidence of arresting Mr Duffy yesterday at 6.51pm at Blackrock. She believed him to be a member of an unlawful organisation.

She said when he was cautioned, Mr Duffy replied: "I am not a member of any illegal organisation."

The court remanded Duffy in custody until tomorrow.

Woman guilty in pipe-bomb trial

A Dublin woman has pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having pipe bombs, a shotgun, ammunition and drugs at her home.

Laura Creighton (22), of Barry Park, Finglas, was found with two home-made bombs, a shotgun and 56 rounds of Luger ammunition on January 18th this year.

She also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and cannabis for sale or supply on the same date.

Judge Katherine Delahunt remanded Creighton on continuing bail, and set a sentencing date for December.

Kielty escapes driving ban

Patrick Kielty escaped a driving ban yesterday after being caught speeding at more than 100mph.

The Northern Irish television presenter had pleaded guilty to speeding in the south of Scotland on December 27th last year.

Kielty (37), presenter of Fame Academy and Love Island, was fined £1,200 (€1,516) and received six penalty points at Stranraer Sheriff's Court yesterday.

He later joked that a ban would have saved him money. He said leaving court: "To be honest with you, with the price of petrol at the moment, I was sort of half looking forward to a ban."

His lawyer, Gerald Tierney, spoke of Kielty's involvement in charity events and smaller fundraisers such as golf tournaments. It was these lesser known charities which would suffer if Kielty was disqualified.

Sheriff Thomas Millar said he would take into account the impact of a ban on the presenter's charity work, and ordered a fine instead.

Ex-Bula director to settle case

A settlement is expected to be announced to the High Court this morning of an action aimed at enforcing an alleged agreement for the sale of lands in Cork and of former Bula mining director Richard Wood's art collection worth €6.1 million.

The action was over the alleged repudiation of an agreement by two companies controlled by Mr Wood to sell an art and furniture collection and three parcels of land at Carrogrohane/Inchigaggin in Co Cork.

The action was brought by property developers Michelle McCarthy and Thomas McCarthy, Harty's Quay, Cork, who claim an alleged agreement with Rockrohan Estate Ltd and Barryscourt Ltd, both of Carrigrohane, Cork, to sell the collection and lands to them is valid and binding.

The defendant companies deny the claims.