A roundup of today's other news in brief:
Man charged over complaints against gardaÍ
The Director of Public Prosecutions and a solicitor representing the first person to be prosecuted in connection with making false complaints against gardaí, have two weeks to make written submissions to the District Court in Waterford.
Scott Ryan (25), who is in custody and has more than 30 previous convictions, appeared at the Waterford court yesterday.
It is alleged that Mr Ryan, from Waterford but with an address at Duninga, Goresbridge, Co Kilkenny, provided “false or misleading information” regarding gardaí in Waterford in March 2008.
The charge relates to a referral made by Insp Pádraig Dunne and a complaint made by Mr Ryan to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, regarding two members of the force.
James Costello, a senior investigating officer with the Garda Síochána commission, yesterday told state solicitor Frank Hutchinson how Mr Ryan was stopped by gardaí for not having a light on his bicycle in March last year.
However, when the matter was dealt with, Mr Ryan made his way to the Garda station at Ballybricken in Waterford city and complained that he had been “struck by a Garda vehicle”.
Insp Dunne contacted the Garda Ombudsman office by phone but did not forward the form to the office until weeks later.
Mr Ryan would be liable to a fine of up to €2,500 or six months’ imprisonment or both.
Horse van falls 50ft off bridge
Two people escaped when a transporter carrying horses plummeted 50ft over a bridge in Co Kilkenny yesterday morning.
One thoroughbred was killed instantly when the cab of the vehicle landed on the back section where the horses were loaded. Another horse had to be put down at the scene.
Three foals survived and were brought to a local veterinary premises for further examination. The incident happened on the Kilkenny to New Ross road at Brownsbarn bridge over the River Nore at 10.30am.
The driver of the lorry and a young woman received minor injuries and were taken to St Luke’s Hospital, Kilkenny.
Five held over drugs seizure
Five people are being questioned by gardaí in connection with the seizure of cash and drugs worth an estimated €60,000 in south Dublin.
The discovery was made during a planned search at a house in Ballycullen, Rathfarnham, at 11.30pm on Thursday. Gardaí found more than €30,000 in cash and cannabis herb valued at €30,000.
Two women and three men were being questioned under section 2 of the Drug Trafficking Act in Tallaght, Rathfarnham and Terenure Garda stations.
Youth charged with having cocaine
A 17-year-old youth charged with possessing cocaine worth about €175,000 at his home has been sent forward for trial.
The teenager had been charged at the Children’s Court with possession of cocaine with intent to
supply at his north Dublin home on a date last November. He was also charged with possessing cocaine worth more than €13,000.
The DPP had directed that the case was not to be kept in the Children’s Court but should be heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, which has wider sentencing powers.