In short

More court reports in brief.

More court reports in brief.

Sentence later for man who abused niece

An elderly man who sexually abused his niece more than 30 years ago has been remanded by Mr Justice Paul Carney for sentence later at the Central Criminal Court.

James Kennedy (85), Cherryfield Road, Walkinstown, Dublin, pleaded guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting the victim on dates unknown between January 1st, 1972, and December 31st, 1975.

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Mr Justice Carney was told the victim wanted Kennedy named in media reports.

He remanded Kennedy on continuing bail and directed the preparation of a victim impact report.

Teenager alleges farmer raped her

An Offaly teenager has told the Central Criminal Court that after a farmer raped her in a field he asked her would they "stay for more or go on the beer".

The 56-year-old accused pleads not guilty to raping and sexually assaulting the then 16-year-old schoolgirl on April 8th, 2004.

The complainant told prosecuting counsel Thomas Creed SC that during her Easter school holiday of 2004 she met the accused in his farmyard and he asked her to take a spin in his Jeep to see the cattle.

The then transition-year student said there was nothing unusual in her accepting the lift because she knew him all her life as he lived up the road.

They came to a field and the farmer got out and opened the gate and drove across the field. "I started to get worried because I didn't see any cattle in the field," she said.

After the alleged rape, she said, he drove her back to a town and said: "I didn't see you and you didn't see me."

Court told of cocaine seizure

A surveillance operation of a north Dublin shopping centre car park suspected of being used for drug deals has led to the trial of two men accused of possessing cocaine valued at €70,000.

John Joyce (28), Grove Park, Malahide Road, and Stephen Proudfoot (26), Moatview Drive, both of Coolock, have pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cocaine with intent to supply it.

Det Sgt Gregory Sheehan of the National Drugs Unit told prosecuting counsel Fergal Foley he observed the two collecting a white package containing what he believed to be a kilo of cocaine from a van in the car park of the Priorswood Shopping Centre.

The trial continues before Judge Tony Hunt and a jury.

Man on gardaí assault charge

A Galway City man appeared before Galway District Court yesterday charged with assaulting two gardaí and two other people in separate incidents.

Gerard Barry (27), St James's Crescent, Mervue, Galway, with an address at Tur Uisce, Doughiska, Galway, is further charged with contravening a Protection Order, on August 16th last, which a woman, believed to be his former partner, had obtained against him.

He was charged with contravening the order by putting the woman in fear when he called to her house in the early hours of the morning.

He is also charged with assaulting the woman on August 3rd last and with assaulting a male relative of the woman.

Judge Mary Fahy remanded the accused on continuing bail to February 13th next when the charges will be dealt with.