The other news of the day in short
Indefinite term for Irishman over vicious rape
An Irishman who kidnapped a woman from a London tower block lift before brutally raping her in his home has been jailed indefinitely.
Stephen Byrne, (38), had previously been jailed for nine years in 1995 after being found guilty of sexually attacking a woman at knife-point in Galway.
In the latest attack Byrne, originally from Dublin, with an address at East Dulwich, London, was filmed on CCTV holding a knife to the throat of a 27 year old who was a complete stranger to Byrne. He then dragged her to his flat on the fourth floor and made her strip. The ordeal lasted 10 hours.
The victim was in tears as her statement was read out in court. Judge Roger Chapple gave him an indeterminate sentence, ordering him to serve a minimum of six years before he could be considered for parole.
Judge's ruling on solicitors in courts
A District Court judge has said he intends to insist that all counsel appearing before him for accused persons must have solicitors in court rather than have defence instructions taken directly from clients by the barristers.
Judge Seán MacBride said yesterday at Carrickmacross District Court, Co Monaghan that it was, in his opinion, not appropriate for counsel to be getting direct instructions from members of the public.
He made his comments during a case in which counsel was representing a defendant without an instructing solicitor in court.
Rent ruling
Singer, actor and model Samantha Mumba was ordered by a judge yesterday to pay a tenant in a property she owns back his rent deposit of almost €4,000.
Solicitor Jennifer Murphy told the Circuit Civil Court that Ms Mumba had held on to the €3,950 deposit after Damien Carley moved out of her property at Griffith Avenue, Dublin. She told Judge Jacqueline Linnane Ms Mumba’s house had been rented by Damien Carley, Iona Drive, Glasnevin, Dublin, of Carley and Connellan solicitors.
Mr Carley had referred a complaint to the Private Residential Tenancy Board which had given Ms Mumba a month to return €3,950.
Murderer's transfer challenge adjourned
A High Court judge has granted “one last adjournment” of a High Court challenge by double murderer Mark Nash to a refusal by the authorities to transfer him to a British prison to finish his life sentence.
Nash (36) was convicted in October 1998 of the murders of Carl Doyle (29) and his wife Catherine Doyle (28) at their home in Caran, Ballintober, Castlerea, on August 16th, 1997. Ms Doyle was the sister of Nash’s then girlfriend.
Nash was born in Ballina, Mayo, but spent most of his life in Leeds. During his incarceration earlier last year he brought a challenge against the Minister for Justice and Law reform seeking to be transferred to an English prison.
Guilty of INLA membership
A Dublin man has pleaded at the Special Criminal Court guilty to INLA membership.
Gareth Byrne (27), Park Crescent, Kimmage, Dublin, admitted yesterday to membership of an illegal organisation, namely the INLA, on September 9th, 2008.
The three-judge non-jury court remanded Byrne on continuing bail for sentencing on February 23rd.