Other courts news in brief
Solicitor barred over filming
A solicitor who filmed a young woman changing in a leisure centre in Northern Ireland has been banned from practising.
Richie MacRitchie (33) was suspended indefinitely following a disciplinary hearing in Belfast. The ban was imposed days after he received a four-month suspended jail term for attempted voyeurism.
MacRitchie, from Ardmullan, Omeath, Co Louth, but based in Belfast, has been put on the Sex Offenders’ Register for seven years. He was found guilty of using his mobile phone to record the woman for the intention of sexual gratification.
MacRitchie admitted filming four clips of the victim, then 18, at the Falls Leisure Centre, west Belfast, in October 2006.
This led to the Law Society of Northern Ireland referring his case to the independent Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal.
A panel decided against striking him off but ordered his indefinite suspension after representations on Friday. MacRitchie, who plans to appeal the sentence handed down at Belfast Magistrates Court last Monday, can also challenge the outcome of the tribunal.
15,000 award over injured finger
A law student who injured a finger while working as a barman in a night club was awarded €15,000 damages in the Circuit Civil Court yesterday.
Stephen Boggs (26), now a barrister, of Blackhall Court, Dublin, told Circuit Court president Mr Justice Matthew Deery that a glass he was cleaning shattered in his hand.
Bernard McCabe, counsel for Mr Boggs, told the court the defendant, Liffeybeat Ltd, trading as Spirit Nightclub, Dublin, had gone into liquidation since the March 2005 incident. He said judgment in default of defence had been granted against Liffeybeat and asked the court to assess damages.
A medical report revealed that Mr Boggs’s finger had become cold intolerant and fatigued following prolonged typing.
IRA membership and bomb charges
A Limerick man was charged with possession of explosives and IRA membership at a sitting of the Special Criminal Court yesterday evening.
Kenneth O’Reilly (28), of Killmurray Court, Garryowen, Co Limerick, was charged with IRA membership at Limerick Road, Nenagh, Co Tipperary on Saturday last, February 28th.
He was also charged with possession of about 1kg of explosives.
Det Garda Eileen Keogh told the court she arrested Mr O’Reilly yesterday in Clondalkin under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.
She said she cautioned him and that he made no reply.
Mr Justice Paul Butler remanded Mr O’Reilly in custody until next week, when a bail application is expected to be heard.
Convicted of making hoax call
A Swords man who made a hoax call to emergency services saying there was a bomb at his local Garda station has been given a suspended sentence by Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Thomas McDermott (63), Brookdale Grove, Rivervalley, who became alcoholic after his partner’s death, was arrested after his number was traced.
He pleaded guilty to sending a message on August 30th, 2007 that he knew was false.