A round-up of today's other Irish news stories in brief
Man in court over large Limerick heroin seizure
A man aged 29 has appeared in court charged in relation to a significant seizure of heroin in Limerick at the weekend.
John Reid, of Simmonstown Manor, Celbridge, Co Kildare, appeared before Limerick District Court charged with possession of drugs and possession of heroin for sale or supply.
The drugs, with a street value of €87,000, were seized during a house search at Ballysimon on the outskirts of Limerick city on Saturday evening.
The court was told Mr Reid made no reply when charged at Henry Street Garda station.
Police did not object to bail as long as accused abides by strict conditions, including signing on daily at Leixlip Garda station.
Judge Eamon O’Brien granted bail on Mr Reid’s own bond of €1,000 with an independent surety of €3,000. He is due before the court again on Thursday. Gardaí are still questioning a Limerick man aged 24 about the seizure.
Seven years' jail for possessing revolver
A Cork man who got a seven-year sentence for manslaughter in 2004 has been jailed for another seven years for possessing a firearm.
John O’Donovan (37) also got eight years for robbery in 2002 while on bail for the manslaughter charge.
O’Donovan, Spriggs Road, Vallydrive, Cork, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing a 6mm revolver on the Naas Road, Rathcoole on February 21st, 2009.
Asylum seeker returns to centre
A man who brought legal proceedings following his ejection from an accommodation centre for asylum seekers in Longford has been permitted return to the premises, the High Court was told yesterday.
The asylum seeker, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had last week sought leave to bring judicial review proceedings arising from a decision to move him.
Teenage burglar held for sentencing
A recovering teenage drug addict, who burgled a school and terrified a priest during a break-in at a church, has been held in custody for sentencing.
The boy (17) pleaded guilty at the Children’s Court yesterday to the burglary at St Malachy’s Boys’ School, Edenmore, in Dublin, on December 11th last. He also admitted trespassing and criminal damage at St Monica’s Church, also in Edenmore, four days later.
End of prosecution stage in rape trial
The trial of a man accused of raping a woman as her boyfriend slept beside her in a Tipperary hotel room after a wedding party has reached the end of the prosecution stage at the Central Criminal Court.
The defence will indicate today if they intend to call any witnesses.
The accused has pleaded not guilty to raping the woman at the hotel on July 7th, 2008.
The trial is before Mr Justice John Edwards.
Selling salt to NRA during big freeze
A businessman has told how he made money by selling salt to the National Roads Authority during the the big freeze. Aer Arann chairman Pádraig Ó Céidigh told a business seminar in Galway that he sold more than 10,000 tonnes of salt to the NRA.
Mr Ó Céidigh was addressing the Halo Business Angels Partnership seminar on private equity opportunities in early-stage companies.
He said he saw how a shortage of salt was bringing the country to a standstill. “I got on the internet and knew someone who knew someone else and, after about a half day’s work, I had sold 10,400 tonnes of salt to the NRA.”
Online college to create 12 jobs
Twelve full-time posts are to be created at Hibernia College, the online college.
Hibernia now graduates more primary-school teachers each year than any other programme in the State with its higher diploma in arts in primary education.
Hibernia also announced yesterday that Dr Don Thornhill, chairman of the National Competitiveness Council, will join its board as chairman and a non-executive board member. Dr Thornhill is a former secretary general of the Department of Education and former executive chairman of the Higher Education Authority.
Body of man who died in fire released
The body of the Donegal man who died in a fire at Brinaleck, Derrybeg, on Sunday morning was last night released to his family.
Columba Doherty (30), a father of one, died when his mobile home was engulfed in flames in the early hours of Sunday.
Fire services received a call at 7.50am on Sunday after neighbours and passersby spotted smoke coming from the 30ft mobile home. When they arrived the mobile home was engulfed in flames and nothing could be done.
Gardaí last night said postmortem results would not be made available.