A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
B&Q pleads guilty to workplace safety offence after man’s death
DIY franchise B&Q Ireland Ltd will hear the penalty against it at a later date after pleading guilty yesterday to a workplace safety offence after the death of a man in one of its garden centres.
Ronald Metcaffe, on behalf of B&Q Ireland Ltd, Fitzwilton House, Wilton Place, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to failing to ensure a safe workplace in that a bundle of lap panel fencing was stored at an unsafe height resulting in the personal injury and death of Michael O’Rourke at a B&Q garden centre on the Belgard Road, Tallaght, on March 29th, 2009.
Judge Tony Hunt adjourned the matter for sentencing in July.
Anglo secures orders for €28m
Anglo Irish Bank has secured court orders entitling it to recover some €28 million against a Dublin businessman over unpaid property loans and guarantees.
William Smyth, also known as Liam Smyth, Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin, consented to the orders at the Commercial Court yesterday. His counsel Ciarán Lewis secured a stay on the orders until Friday next to give Mr Smyth a chance to secure refinancing. Mr Justice Peter Kelly will review the stay issue on Friday.
The case relates to loan facilities of some €17 million dating from 2007 and 2009, made available by Anglo to Mr Smyth.
In March 2007, Mr Smyth guaranteed the obligations of Sanguinis Ltd, and the bank claimed some €10.8 million was due under this.
A condition of the facilities was that Mr Smyth execute first legal charges in favour of the bank over properties at Dalkey, Co Dublin; Clonee, Co Meath, and an apartment at Hogan Square, Dublin.
Man guilty of manslaughter
A man has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a New Age Traveller whose body was found in a slurry tank in west Cork.
Jason Thomas from Exeter in England admitted killing Gary Bull in September 2007 in Dunmanway.
Thomas (39) had been charged with Mr Bull’s murder, but his plea to manslaughter was accepted at the Central Criminal Court yesterday. Mr Justice Paul Carney will sentence him in Cork at a later date.
State confiscates €35,000
A Co Galway resident has had €35,050 confiscated and forfeited to the State after a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court judge ruled it represented the proceeds of crime.
Anthony McAuley (46), Brackloon, Kiltullagh, Athenry, was stopped by Customs officers in Dublin airport on March 1st, 2009, as he was about to board a flight to Malaga, Spain.
A search of his suitcase revealed €35,050 in white envelopes hidden between his clothing.