A round-up of today's other court stories in brief
Appeal court rejects new evidence bid
The Court of Criminal Appeal has rejected a bid by a Co Galway man to call new scientific evidence in his appeal against his 1998 rape and murder conviction. The hearing was adjourned yesterday and will resume next Wednesday.
John McDonagh (33), Keeraunbeg, Carraroe, was jailed for life in 2001 after he was found guilty of the rape and murder of Siobhán Hynes (17), Lettermore, Connemara. Her body was found at Tismeáin beach in December 1998.
Mr Justice Hugh Geoghegan said the appeal court could only allow the admission of new scientific evidence in "extraordinary circumstances".
Drugs smuggler jailed for six years
A Ghanaian man who was found with 75 pellets in his stomach containing €41,601 worth of cocaine at Dublin airport has been sentenced to six years in prison by Judge Katherine Delahunt.
Vincent Stein (23), Kumasi, Ghana, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the drugs at Dublin airport on January 23rd, 2006.
Bus driver loses 'bullying' claim
A bus driver, who claimed he lived in fear of his life because of bullying by one of his colleagues, has lost a €38,000 damages claim against Dublin Bus.
Robert Moffat, Foxhill Drive, Raheny, Dublin, alleged another driver, John Keating, had been "out to kill" him.
Garda assault claim settled
A plant hire contractor has settled his High Court action over an alleged assault by a garda in the grounds of a Co Louth hotel.
Kevin McCreesh, Culloville, Co Armagh, had sued Garda Patrick Joseph Galvin, stationed at Dundalk, the Garda Commissioner and the State arising from an alleged assault in the grounds of the Fairways Hotel, Dundalk, on Christmas Eve 2000.
Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne was told that the action had been settled. No details were given.
Jury fails to reach assault verdict
A jury has failed to reach a verdict in the trial of an Irish dance teacher accused of indecent assault. Following almost eight hours, the jury could not reach a majority verdict on any of the 24 counts yesterday.
The accused was released on continuing bail by Judge John O'Hagan in the Circuit Court. The 64-year-old has been accused of 24 counts of sexual assault on one of his pupils between January 1983 and December 1988.
Sentence on addict with gun deferred
A heroin addict who pointed a loaded shotgun at a garda has had his sentence adjourned at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The shotgun had been stolen in Laois in May 2004.
Judge Katherine Delahunt adjourned sentence until William Lennon (22), Fatima Mansions, Rialto, could be considered for a drug treatment placement.
Teenage addict burgled houses
A teenage heroin addict, who ransacked two houses within the space of 15 minutes, has been remanded in custody for four weeks to await sentence. The Tallaght boy (16) pleaded guilty at the Dublin Children's Court to burgling the houses in Clondalkin, on January 11th.
The court heard he had 47 previous convictions.