A round-up to today's other court stories in brief
Heroin addict gets 8 years for robberies
A heroin addict who robbed 10 premises in three months has been given an eight-year prison sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Keith Meehan (27), Fenwood Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to having heroin worth €2,000 on June 23rd, 2004 and having a firearm in addition to the robberies on dates between January 8th and April 2nd, 2005.
Gardaí said Meehan was on bail for seven of the robberies and that he had got away with €14,382.
Street protesters settle actions
Two men who alleged they were assaulted by gardaí in separate incidents during the Reclaim the Streets protest three years ago have settled their High Court actions for damages.
Jonathon Kelly, Garble Lane, Rathgar, Dublin, had sued the State and Garda Commissioner after he claimed he was assaulted on Burgh Quay on May 6th, 2002.
A Limerick man who also sued the State and Garda Commissioner settled his action. Keith Kerley Ballysimon, Limerick city, had claimed damages for an alleged assault by gardaí near Dame Street on the same day. Both cases were settled outside court. No details were disclosed.
Mother of 11 remanded on bail
A mother of 11 children whose husband was shot dead by a Mayo farmer last year was remanded on continuing bail at Galway District Court this week for alleged shoplifting offences.
Winifred Ward (41), Carrowbrowne Halting Site, Headford Road, Galway, is charged with handling Christmas decorations worth €51.97 from Argos, Headford Road, Galway, on November 30th last year, knowing they were stolen. She is also charged with stealing jeans and a necklace worth €83.50 from Monsoon, Galway, on the same date.The case was adjourned to March 22nd for hearing.
Man gets six years for armed robbery
An armed bank robber for whom an off-duty detective had organised a "welcome party" after seeing him enter the premises has been jailed for six years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Patrick Mallon (42), Kilmartin Green, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to robbery of the Bank of Ireland, Upr Leeson Street, Dublin, on September 21st, 2004. Anthony Curley (25), Donoghmore Crescent, Donaghmede, who pleaded guilty to handling a stolen car on the same occasion, received a four-year suspended sentence.
Briton dealt drugs in Temple Bar
An English electrical engineer will be sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after being caught selling cocaine in Temple Bar shortly after his release from prison for drugs dealing. Dean Matthews was the subject of a Garda surveillance operation not long after his release from a three-year sentence imposed on April 4th, 2000.
Matthews (36), Rose Hill, Wicklow pleaded guiltyand has been remanded for a probation report.
Three years for attempted theft
A woman whose attempt to steal an elderly woman's handbag on a bus was foiled by a passenger has been given a three-year prison sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Inga Jancauskiene (37) was found guilty by a jury.