A round-up of today's other courts news in brief.
Ruling soon on appeal against Omagh retrial
A ruling is expected shortly on an appeal by Colm Murphy aimed at stopping his retrial on a charge connected with the Real IRA bomb in Omagh which killed 29 people in 1998.
The Special Criminal Court was told yesterday that the Supreme Court heard Mr Murphy’s appeal last October. Prosecuting solicitor Michael O’Donovan said judgment was expected shortly. Mr Murphy was remanded on continuing bail until the end of April.
He was freed on bail in 2005 after the Court of Criminal Appeal quashed his conviction for conspiracy offences connected with the Real IRA bombing. A retrial was ordered.
He was jailed for 14 years by the Special Criminal Court in January 2002 for his alleged role in the bombing.
Jury retires in murder-arson case
A Central Criminal Court jury has been sent home for the night after an afternoon spent deliberating in the case of a Tipperary man accused of murder and arson.
John Paul Buck (29), Clonmel, Co Tipperary, has pleaded not guilty to stabbing Fergus Roche (30) to death on October 1st, 2005. He also denies setting fire to a vacant house.
Four years for apartment theft
A man who was one of a gang of four who broke into a Kildare apartment and tied up the female occupant before they “turned everything upside down” has been given a four-year sentence.
James McClean and his accomplices tied the woman’s arms before they stole four sets of keys and €400.
McClean (26), Ratoath Road, Finglas, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the robbery in October 2006.
Guilty plea in manslaughter case
A man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter at a house in Waterford city. Martin Smith (31), Closegate, Waterford city, appeared at Waterford Circuit Court yesterday in connection with the death of Michael Corbett (51), following an incident at a party on May 31st last year.
Mr Corbett died in hospital after suffering serious injuries at his rented apartment at Barrack Street.
Smith, who is in custody on other matters, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Corbett yesterday. Judge Rory MacCabe adjourned to April 21st.
Man jailed for 10 years for rape
A man has been jailed for 10 years for rape by Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court.
Roger Ryan (31), Clonlong caravan site, O’Malley Park, was found guilty at a trial in Clonmel in January to raping the woman in June 2006 in a Co Tipperary town.
Mr Justice Carney said it was “a highly aggravating factor” that Ryan broke into the woman’s house in the middle of the night and said his hopes for the future were “somewhat hollow”, considering his 85 previous convictions.
S African jailed for importing drugs
A South African man has been jailed for 10 years for importing €180,000 worth of cannabis after hearing there was a “market for it” in Ireland.
Jacques Fox (33), Waverly, Pretoria, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to importing cannabis after he was caught at Dublin airport in February 2008 with 20 kg.