In Short....

A round-up of today's other stories in brief...

A round-up of today's other stories in brief...

Youth caught with dart-gun by gardaí

A teenager who was caught with a spear gun which fires a one-metre long metal dart has been remanded on bail to await sentencing.

"I consider that on par with a loaded gun, it could do the same damage to another human being," said Judge Catherine Murphy who described the weapon as "lethal".

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The 17-year-old youth, who cannot be identified, pleaded guilty at the Children's Court to having the spear gun at Liam Mellowes Road, in Finglas, Dublin, on October 14th last.

Prosecuting Garda Joseph Glackin of Finglas station told Judge Murphy that he stopped the 17 year old driving a barely roadworthy car. The south Dublin boy's counsel said the defendant claimed he had bought the car a week before and did not know the gun was in the vehicle.

Cafe owner fined over price display

A bakery and cafe owner who "showed no regard whatsoever" for a law requiring him to display prices was fined €12,000 yesterday.

Princegrange, trading as La Boulangerie, Camden Street, Dublin, was also ordered to pay €500 legal costs to the Director of Consumer Affairs who prosecuted the company for failing to display the list on four occasions.

Dublin District Court heard an inspector called to the premises in November and December 2005, and January and February 2006. She spoke to managers and to director, D'jamel Arif, but nothing was done.

Mr Arif had previously appeared in court but did not turn up for yesterday's hearing.

Judge Desmond Zaidan said the defendant had "totally disregarded" the law despite four visits by an inspector.

"This company and its director have no regard whatsoever for the laws put in place to protect the consumer," he said.

He imposed the maximum fine of €3,000 for each of the four offences.

Woman loses action over fall

A Co Wicklow woman who sued the ESB, Eircom and Bray Town Council for damages after she fell and fractured her leg is facing a substantial legal bill after losing her High Court action.

Mr Justice Daniel Herbert said yesterday he was "compelled" to dismiss the action by Margaret McFadden, from Kilbride Grove, Bray, Co Wicklow, for damages arising from injuries sustained when she fell on a broken path close to a drain that occurred in April 1999.

The judge said Ms McFadden had no reliable recollection of where the relevant fall occurred and no reliable recollection of what it was that caused her to trip and fall. This meant she had not discharged the onus of proof.

Tribute to High Court usher

A High Court judge has paid tribute to a former Garda community officer and usher who died last Monday.

Mr Justice Paul Gilligan in the High Court yesterday said John Carroll had been his usher since shortly after he was appointed to the High Court bench. Before joining the Courts Service, Mr Carroll was a very distinguished member of the Garda and community officer for the greater Dún Laoghaire area, Mr Justice Gilligan said.

He added that John was a devoted family man, justly proud of his family's ahievements