In Short

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

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

O2 venue seeks seven-day pub licence

The O2 music amphitheatre is to ask a judge next week for a seven-day pub licence only days before its official opening. Formerly the Point at North Wall Quay, Dublin, it has been renamed and refitted in an €80 million makeover.

Dorothy Collins, counsel for Amphitheatre Ireland Ltd, told Circuit Court president Mr Justice Matthew Deery in the Circuit Civil Court yesterday there had been some outstanding minor concerns relating to the Garda and fire authorities which would be addressed by next week.

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Eleven years' jail for ex-boxer

A former international boxer observed by gardaí unloading €3.78 million worth of cocaine and cannabis has been sentenced to 11 years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Anthony McEnroe (21), Slievemore Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, was arrested by armed gardaí after they saw him use a forklift to take the drugs from a truck at a west Dublin warehouse.

He pleaded guilty to possession of 380kg of cannabis herb and 10kg of cocaine at JFK Industrial Estate in June 2007.

Judge Katherine Delahunt suspended the final two years.

Second hotel stay for murder jury

The jury at the trial of a Dublin man accused of murder was sent to a hotel for a second night last night.

Bryan Ryan (24), Sheepmore Crescent, Blanchardstown, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ian Tobin (25) at Fortlawn Park, Blanchardstown, on May 27th, 2007.

Man tried for rape and imprisonment

A Co Clare man has gone on trial accused of falsely imprisoning his former partner, who was pregnant, for seven hours during which he allegedly raped her, threatened to kill her and hit her in the face with a shotgun.

The man has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to six charges arising out of the incident in her home in September 2007. He has pleaded guilty to one charge of assault causing her harm.

The hearing continues before Mr Justice Barry White and a jury.

Bouncer beat up man and bit his ear

A bouncer who bit off part of a man's ear because he was depressed about being told he may have CJD - a form of "mad cow disease" - has been given a three-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Ken Broe (36), North Frederick Street, Dublin, beat Karl Philips to the ground outside Heaven Nightclub, Blanchardstown, Dublin, in October 2007, before biting his ear lobe off and fleeing.

Broe's eight previous convictions included assault, public order offences and criminal damage and he was in custody in connection with a separate alleged assault. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm.

Three years for role in Love Ulster riot

A Westmeath resident who threw missiles at gardaí during the 2006 Love Ulster parade riot has been given a three-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

John Saunders (40), an alcoholic schizophrenic, from Kinnegad, represented himself following an unsuccessful application last July to change his plea to not guilty, after evidence was heard in the case in December 2007.