A round-up to today's other stories in brief
Woman (75) dies following collision
A 75-year-old pedestrian was killed yesterday when she was struck by an articulated lorry at Main Street, Abbeyleix, Co Laois, at about 5.30pm.
The victim died at the scene, and her body was removed to Portlaoise General Hospital. Gardaí have not yet released her name.
Properties fetch €1,100,000 for Cab
The Criminal Assets Bureau netted €1,100,000 at an auction in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, yesterday for two substantial properties previously owned by missing Dublin criminal Seán Dunne.
The first property auctioned under the Proceeds of Crime Act comprised a development of five nearly completed holiday homes, a site with planning permission for a two-storey house on a four- acre site in Port na Blagh sold for €750,000.
The second property, a 430 sq m (4,627 sq ft) detached dormer bungalow at Magherablade, Creeslough, on one acre, fetched €360,000.
All of the properties were owned by Mr Dunne (34) who disappeared in Alicante, Spain, 18 months ago. At the time of his disappearance, Cab was seeking €4 million in taxes from Mr Dunne.
Suspended term for storing guns
A man who, "foolishly under dreadful pressure", stored guns used in an armed robbery has been given a five-year suspended sentence by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Alan Cunningham (23), Mulhuddart, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a submachine gun, a semi-automatic pistol, a double-barrelled sawn-off shotgun, 69 rounds of 9mm Luger ammunition and 59 shotgun cartridges on November 1st, 2004.
The cache was discovered in a house rented at the time by Cunningham and three friends in Clonee, Co Meath.
Alleged absconder claims threats
An American man arrested in Dublin after allegedly absconding from the US while on bail on charges relating to the deaths there of three young students in a car crash has claimed before the High Court in Dublin that his life will be in danger if extradited to the US because of death threats against him.
Frederick David Russell (26) had received threats in the US following the crash on June 4th, 2001, near his home town of Pullman, Washington, his counsel Tom O'Connell SC said.
Mr Justice Michael Peart yesterday began hearing proceedings by Mr Russell aimed at preventing his extradition to the US. He is alleged to have absconded while on bail on charges imposed in Washington state on three counts of vehicular homicide and vehicular assault.
The court was told Mr Russell was released on €5,000 bail and was due at a preliminary hearing on October 26th, 2001, but he did not turn up.
Mr Justice Peart adjourned the hearing until March 14th.