Today's other stories in brief
Jail suspended over burglary of Glanbia plant
A man who was involved in a botched robbery in which a garda was run over by a get-away car has been given a suspended jail sentence.
Kilkenny Circuit Court yesterday heard Patrick McInerney (28), was one of seven men involved in theft of wiring from a Glanbia plant in Ballyragget on June 6th, 2007.
Sgt Peter McConnon told the court three gardaí were injured after the gang rammed a roadblock outside the factory on the night. McInerney pleaded guilty yesterday to a charge of burglary and a charge of resisting arrest. Judge Olive Buttimer imposed a three-year suspended jail term for burglary and 120 hours of community service in lieu of six months in jail for resisting arrest.
Clare FM bullying action settled
A bullying and harassment action taken by a former Clare FM radio presenter against the company that operates the radio station has been settled.
At Ennis Circuit Court yesterday, evidence in the case by Frances O’Byrne (42) of St Patrick’s Terrace, Nenagh, Co Tipperary – known to listeners as Pam Wilson – against Clare Community Radio Holdings plc was due to be heard. The case was settled, however, and adjourned to the next sitting of Ennis Circuit Civil Court for mention only. In a response affidavit, Clare Community Radio Holdings plc denied the allegations.
ATM fraudster ‘must serve time’
A man caught by security guards retrieving a skimming device and camera from an ATM was given a two-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Florian Lupu (21), of Glenealy Downs, Clonsilla, and originally from Romania, pleaded guilty to possessing a skimming device and camera at Beaumont Hospital on October 11th, 2007.
Judge Frank O’Donnell had remanded Lupu in custody after hearing evidence in the case in March. He suspended the last year of Lupu’s sentence but said: “Word has to go out that people doing what this man did must serve time.”
Month in jail for melee participants
A melee involving up to 25 young men on a Sunday morning as people were going to Mass in a Co Roscommon town was yesterday described by Judge Geoffrey Browne as like a scene from the wild west.
Four of the men, in their early 20s and said to have had minor roles, were yesterday sentenced to a month each in jail, fined €250 and ordered to pay €40 witness expenses.
Apprentice mechanic David McLoughlin, Gort, Jamestown, Leitrim; and landscape gardener Keelan Moran, Landmark Court; Conor Donaldson, unemployed, Headford Lodge, Drumsna, and part-time security guard James Finnerty, Sroankeeragh, all Carrick-on-Shannon, appeared at Strokestown District Court.
Judge Browne said while he accepted the four defendants were at the lower end of the scale of events, they took part in “disgraceful scenes”. Recognisances were fixed in event of appeal.
Injunction against picketing of site
The High Court has granted an injunction preventing the picketing and blockading of a building site in Dublin by bricklayers who are allegedly demanding local labour should be used on the site.
C and A Excavations Ireland Ltd, building a special needs development for South Dublin Co Council at Fettercairn Road in Tallaght, sought the injunction on grounds its contract was about to be terminated due to building delays caused by the pickets.
Ms Justice Mary Laffoy granted an interim injunction restraining three named picketers and anyone else with knowledge of the order trespassing or picketing the site or interfering with access to it.