In Short

A round-up of today's Irish news stories in brief

A round-up of today's Irish news stories in brief

Luas tram driver sent for trial over crash involving bus

A Luas tram driver charged over a crash involving a bus at O’Connell Street in Dublin was served with a book of evidence yesterday and sent forward for trial before a judge and jury.

Oriyomi Emmanuel (37), Jamestown Park, Ratoath, Co Meath, had been charged in June at Dublin District Court with dangerous driving of a Luas tram in a manner which was dangerous to the public and caused serious bodily harm to a woman, Suzanne Cribbon, on September 16th last. He had also been charged under the Railway Safety Act 2005 with performing a “safety critical task” which was dangerous to the public, or posed an unreasonable risk of harm to them.

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DPP declined to take action in case

The DPP declined to take action against three media outlets following a complaint that reports carried by them of court proceedings had identified two children who were victims of sexual abuse, the High Court heard yesterday.

In proceedings against the media outlets, the children claim the reports and broadcasts of the court proceedings, in which a man admitted charges of rape and sexual assault, had identified them and breached their constitutional right to privacy and their legal right to anonymity. The media outlets deny the claims.

Adjournment in model death case

The case against two people who face charges connected to the death of model Katy French was adjourned again at Navan District Court yesterday.

Kieran Ducie (40), Lambertstown Manor, Kilmessan, Co Meath and Ann Corcoran (29), Tolka Road, Clonliffe Road, Dublin each face charges of possession of cocaine for the purpose of supply, intentionally or recklessly engaging in conduct to wit the supply of cocaine to Ms French and failure to get medical help in a timely fashion. The case was adjourned to September 8th.

Two jailed for cannabis possessio

Two friends who were caught transferring €1.8 million worth of cannabis resin from into sportsbags in a Dublin apartment have been given sentences of 14 and 10 years.

Gardaí burst into John Lynch’s Coolock apartment to find him and Anthony Tiernan loading cannabis into bags for distribution. Officers found another €630,000 worth of the drug in a van in the car park. Tiernan (48), Castletimon Green, Kilmore West and Lynch (46), Castlekevin Road, Coolock, pleaded guilty to possession on May 20th, 2009.

Man in coma after assault in New York

A Dublin man is in a coma in hospital after he was assaulted during a night out with his wife in the Bronx area of New York on Sunday.

Barry McCormack (35) was out with his wife Cheryl, another couple and a friend when he was assaulted on Katonah Avenue.

Mr McCormack, a supervisor with Irish company ECI Contracting, was taken to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx where he was put into a medically induced coma. “Barry suffered a fractured temple, a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain and an enlarged brain,” said his cousin Mark McCormack.

Fresh appeal on Finglas shooting

Gardaí have launched a fresh appeal into a shooting in which two men were wounded in Finglas two weeks ago.

Gardaí in Cabra investigating the shooting of Anthony and Ciarán McDonagh, are seeking witnesses to the incident which occurred at 9.10am on Thursday July 15th on the River Road, between Finglas and Ashtown, Co Dublin.

The men were in a van driving along the River Road in Finglas when a car pulled up beside them.

A man in the car fired a number of shots injuring both the driver and a passenger of the van. The gunman escaped on foot.

Anthony McDonagh, the driver, remains in hospital following the shooting. Ciarán McDonagh has since been released from hospital.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Cabra gardaí on 016667432 or 016667400.

Gardaí investigate Cavan assault

Gardaí in Cavan town are investigating the assault on a 26-year-old local man in the town on Sunday night last by a gang of local youths.

The attack occurred at 10.30pm as the man walked down Connolly Street, where he was approached by a group of four to six males wearing hooded tops. He was struck on the back of the head and was then kicked repeatedly as he lay on the ground. He was also stabbed four times in the back.

SF aims to tackle Cork housing crisis

Sinn Féin yesterday launched a campaign in Cork aimed at tackling a housing crisis in the city which has seen the council’s waiting list grow to 8,000 people.

The campaign, “Let’s End the Wait”, aims to make tackling the housing problem a major priority and will focus on a number of issues, Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan O’Brien. said. “Sinn Féin are outlining a whole range of workable ideas that can start improving the situation. Whether it’s making use of vacant dwellings and ghost estates or reform of the housing list and tenants’ rights, there’s so much that can be done that isn’t being done right now.”