A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
‘Skippy Dies’ makes it to ‘Time’ magazine’s top three for 2010
Irish author Paul Murray's Skippy Dieshas been selected as the third best fiction book of the year by Timemagazine. The comic novel finished third in Timemagazine's "Top 10 of Everything of 2010".
" Skippy Diesis one of the liveliest and most poignant books of the year, and it will leave you eager for whatever Murray writes next," Timesaid. The novel is the second offering by the Dublin-born Murray (35). Skippy Dies was shortlisted for the 2010 Costa Novel award and longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. The 660-page novel was published in January, and took seven years to complete. Freedom by Jonathan Franzen was named best fiction book of 2010 by Time.
Robber ‘bothered’ by screwdriver raid handed himself in to Garda station
A Lucan man who handed himself into a Garda station two days after robbing a shop because the offence had “bothered” him so much will be sentenced next year at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Mark Ward (26) turned up at Harcourt Terrace Garda station to say he was handing himself in after robbing €270 cash from a Spar shop on South Richmond Street in 2009. Garda Laura Byrne said Ward told a colleague the robbery had bothered him because he had committed the offence armed with what he claimed was a clear-handle screwdriver.
Events programme for Year of Craft
A series of events to mark the 40th anniversary of the Crafts Council of Ireland will be celebrated both at home and abroad next year to showcase a range of different crafts in Ireland.
The Year of Craft 2011 programme was announced yesterday by Minister for Enterprise Batt O’Keeffe, who announced President Mary McAleese as patron of the event. Anniversary events include hosting an assembly of the World Craft Council in June, the release of a stamp series by An Post celebrating contemporary craft in Ireland and a children’s exhibition in Temple Bar.
As well as presenting events and exhibitions, Year of Craft 2011 aims to raise awareness of the contribution the craft sector makes to the economy and promote working in craft as an exciting profession.
Landlord and ex-garda jailed for breaching undertakings to court
A landlord and ex-garda has been jailed for six weeks over his “flagrant breach” of undertakings given by him to the High Court concerning a property deemed a fire risk.
President of the High Court Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns yesterday made the order against Kevin Galvin, Furrypark Road, Killester, after Dublin City Council complained that another undertaking he gave last Friday to vacate his property at Cabra Park, Dublin, of all its residents had not been complied with. Mr Justice Kearns said Mr Galvin had committed the “most serious of contempts”.
When he told the court last week the premises had been vacated, that “was an outright lie”, he said.
Jail for father who shook baby boy
A Mauritian national who shook his eight-week-old son causing him serious lifelong injuries has been given a five-year sentence, with the final two years suspended on condition he return to his home country.
The boy, now one year old, has been diagnosed with “shaken baby syndrome” resulting in difficulties with movement, feeding, and speech. He has developed cerebral palsy and epilepsy and is on anti-convulsive medication. His condition is permanent and he is now cared for by foster parents.
Case over family home settled
A High Court action in which a woman claimed she had a lifetime right of residence in the family home, which was bequeathed by her mother to her brother, has been settled. Maura Kelly (56), an unemployed catering assistant, brought the action against her brother Christopher Kelly, over the house on Ratoath Road, Cabra West, Dublin.
Mr Kelly (55), a printer, of Talbot Court, Castleknock, Dublin, denied any such promise. It is believed Ms Kelly will have months to find alternative accommodation.
Sentence halved in stabbing case
A Dublin man who repeatedly stabbed his ex-wife in the stomach with a bread knife has succeeded in having half of his six-year sentence suspended on appeal.
Clive Kearns (60), of Achill Road, Ballybrack, had pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing serious harm to Dorothy Gilsenan at her then home on Whitechurch Avenue, Rathfarnham, on January 17th, 2008.
The Court of Criminal Appeal concluded that the sentencing judge had made an error in principle.