More news in brief.
Suicidal boy remanded in custody
A suicidal 14-year-old boy, who claimed he tried to kill himself in a Garda station cell at the weekend, has been remanded in custody at the Dublin Children's Court.
The south Dublin boy, who is in voluntary care, was charged with causing criminal damage in a hostel in Dublin's city centre on Saturday.
Garda Aileen Kelly said: "I want to relay to the court that there are serious concerns for the defendant in relation to suicidal behaviour. While he was in Garda custody over the past few days, he indicated that he had tried to commit suicide."
Judge Gerard Haughton was told that the boy, who was accompanied to court by his mother, was consenting to be held in custody. Meanwhile, other proceedings in relation to his welfare are to be brought.
Defence solicitor Catherine Ghent said that concerns over the teenager engaging in self-harm had been going back a number of years. The court heard that if bailed the teenager would have to stay in hostel accommodation.
The Health Service Executive said one option for the boy was to live in hostel accommodation with possible further respite care by sending him to a facility in Co Fermanagh for troubled young people. The second was for him to live with a relative while getting therapeutic assistance in the community.
Judge Haughton ordered a remand in custody to the National Remand and Assessment Centre in Finglas, Dublin, after hearing the boy was consenting to the order.
Traffic garda dragged by car
A garda traffic officer was injured yesterday in Co Donegal after being dragged by a car driven by a man he had stopped for questioning. The garda, on patrol on the main Buncrana-Derry road, pulled over a driver who was asked to get out of the vehicle.
However, during questioning, he jumped back into his car and drove off with the garda who was trying to stop him caught in the vehicle.
The garda, who is in his late 40s, was dragged a short distance on the main road and suffered severe cuts and grazing to his legs and alongside his body. He was treated by a GP at the Buncrana Medical Centre.
The driver, who did not stop, is understood to have driven across the Border into Derry. He is known to gardaí who are following a certain line of inquiry in the incident.
Mayo family claims Shell stress
The family of a Co Mayo publican admitted to hospital at the weekend with a suspected stroke claims he has been under severe stress since Shell E&P Ireland placed a Portakabin near Pollathomas Pier earlier this month.
Paddy McGrath is being treated at Mayo General Hospital in Castlebar. He claims ownership of an access road to and land at the north Mayo harbour where the temporary structure was erected.
The Portakabin, which led to a confrontation between protesters and gardaí resulting in a number of injuries last week, had disappeared on Saturday morning.
A spokesperson for Shell said yesterday it had removed the Portakabin.
The spokesperson maintained, however, that the company had every right to place the hut near the pier as it had been confirmed by Mayo County Council that there was a public right of way attached to the access road and the land and pier.
Mr McGrath, however, claimed Shell had trespassed on his property. Mr McGrath threatened legal action to have the structure removed.
Members of his family have told the media that he has been upset by the latest developments, particularly following visits on separate occasions by up to six gardaí to his house.
Gardaí denied there was any pressure or intimidation involved.