A round-up of stories from around the country.
Womb removal claim withdrawn
All allegations against a consultant obstetrician and a hospital of needlessly removing a woman's womb and right ovary were withdrawn at the High Court yesterday.
Geraldine Devlin (45), a machine operator of Balbriggan, Co Dublin, had brought a claim alleging negligence by consultant obstetrician Dr Finian Lynch and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, Co Louth, in relation to certain medical procedures. The hearing before Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne began on Tuesday and was expected to last about five days.
At yesterday's hearing, Seán Moylan SC, for Ms Devlin, told the court the claim was being withdrawn along with all the allegations of negligence against the defendants on the basis that there would be no order for costs.
Trial of nurse set for October 2006
The trial of a nurse accused of assaulting male patients by administering medicines she allegedly knew to be capable of interfering with bodily functions has been set for October 3rd, 2006, at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Noreen Mulholland (33) has addresses at Runabeg Close, Kildare and in Portadown. She has been remanded on continuing bail. Judge Desmond Hogan heard that the trial could continue for up to eight weeks.
Dangerous driving charge challenged
The High Court has reserved judgment on an application by a deaf and dumb man to prevent the Director of Public Prosecutions prosecuting him on a charge of dangerous driving causing the death of two teenage girls at Avoca, Co Wicklow.
Cyril Hobson (35), Kilmagig House, Avoca, is accused of dangerous driving causing the deaths of Stephanie McCauley (15) and Vanessa Byrne (13) on June 20th, 2003.
He had been originally charged with careless driving and is challenging the decision to alter that charge to one of dangerous driving causing death.
Individual cases against deportation
Challenges to deportation orders brought by some 150 non-nationals who have Irish-born children are to be dealt with individually by the High Court. The cases were listed before the court yesterday but were adjourned to enable them to be processed individually.
While decisions on the applications are pending, the deportation orders will not take effect. The proceedings have been brought against the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform while a number are against the Refugee Appeals Tribunal and the Garda Commissioner.
Mother jailed on drugs charge
A woman who was caught with cannabis resin valued at almost €400,000 has been jailed for 10 years after Judge Frank O'Donnell said he could not find any circumstance that would justify imposing a lesser sentence.
Esther Cullen (49), Drumcairn Gardens, Tallaght, Dublin, took part in an operation "designed to exploit the weakness of those addicted to drugs for her own gain", the judge said.Her nephew, Joseph Mooney (20), Emmet Road, Inchicore, was acquitted.
French to honour Una Claffey
One of the Taoiseach's advisers, Una Claffey, a former RTÉ political correspondent, will tonight be honoured by the French government at a ceremony in the French embassy in Dublin.
Ms Claffey, who has worked for the Taoiseach, will be made a "Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Merite" in recognition of "her long commitment to France and the quality of the relationship she has always developed with our country", the embassy said.