More news in brief.
Man had stun gun, baton and sword in car
A man took a stun gun from the glove box of the car he was driving when stopped by a female garda on suspicion of drunk driving.
Garda Jean Ennis told Wicklow Circuit Criminal court that Bray man Ian Ebbs, when asked to step out of the car, learned over towards the glove box and took out what looked to be a torch.
When two probes lit up she realised it was a stun gun. She took it from him and handcuffed Ebbs.
Garda Ennis said that when she asked the defendant why he had the weapon he replied "Bray is a dangerous place".
Garda Ennis said that in a search of the vehicle, which the court heard was not owned by the defendant, she found a baton in the glove box and a samurai sword in the boot.
Ebbs was found guilty of three charges of having offensive weapons in his possession. Sentencing was put back to December.
Boy (14) admits having shotgun
A 14-year-old boy pleaded guilty to possession of a shotgun and ammunition in connection with a shooting at a house in Limerick city earlier this year.
The teenager - who cannot be named for legal reasons - appeared before Limerick Circuit Court on four charges arising out of an alleged incident at St Mary's Park in Limerick city last April.
He pleaded guilty to possession of a sawn-off shotgun and 12 shotgun cartridges. He also admitted damaging a car tyre and a house.
Defence counsel Brian McInerney said he was anxious that his young client, who has been in custody since last April, be sentenced as soon as possible.
Judge Carroll Moran directed that a probation report be prepared and adjourned the matter until October 10th.
Drugs carried 'to pay for ticket'
A Polish man who said he accepted a job offer in Spain only to be told on his arrival he had to import €40,000 worth of cannabis and amphetamines to Ireland to repay the cost of his airline ticket has been given a seven-year sentence.
Wojcieck Skupnik (26) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis resin and amphetamines at Dublin airport on August 31st, 2007.
Judge Katherine Delahunt imposed a seven-year sentence with the final two years suspended on strict conditions.
Defence counsel Ciaran O'Loughlin SC said Skupnik had written a letter to the court in which he apologised for wasting taxpayers' money. He also told the court that Skupnik had been offered a place by The National College of Art and Design after they spotted his work in a prison exhibition.
Sentence reduced for armed robbers
Two men who attempted an armed robbery on a bookmaker returning from Fairyhouse Racecourse on the day of the Irish Grand National have had their jail sentences reduced from eight to six years by the Court of Criminal Appeal. Noel Boylan (33), of Blanchardstown, and Gerard Claxton (32), of Clonee, pleaded guilty to the attempted armed robbery of John Carty on Deansgrange Road, Dublin, on April 17th, 2006. Both men, were jailed for eight years.
Mr Justice Nial Fennelly, presiding at the appeal court said that the court would suspend the last two years
on condition that both men kept the peace so they had "light at the end of the tunnel".