A round-up of other stories in brief.
Rape charge man did not take cash
A Waterford businessman has been found not guilty of stealing €1,200 cash from a Croatian prostitute he is alleged to have raped in a local upmarket hotel in 2006.
The jury at the Central Criminal Court was sent to a hotel overnight having failed to return a verdict on the rape charge following almost five hours of deliberation.
Mr Justice Barry White has asked the six men and six women to return to court this morning to resume deliberation of the rape charge. The man (46) has pleaded not guilty to raping the woman on May 21st, 2006, and had also denied stealing €1,200 cash from her after hiring her by phone from the Cork-based Red Velvets Escort Agency.
Jail for ex-postman who stored drugs
A former postman who stored over €1 million worth of cannabis in bushes near his home to repay a debt has been given an eight-year sentence by Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Matthew McConville (24) was chased by gardaí into his former girlfriend's house, where they discovered a stash of cocaine stored by her and her tenant, Paul Ryan (30), who was given a three-year sentence.
McConville, of Cedar Court, Ballybrack, said he had been storing the drugs to repay a €1,700 debt.
He pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis resin valued at €1,308,000 at Páirc na Silla, Loughlinstown, on January 5, 2007. Ryan and his ex-girlfriend, Rhona Earls (27), both of Páirc na Silla Rise, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine valued at €2,000.
Seven-year term over heroin haul
An electrician who was caught holding heroin worth almost €200,000 has been given a seven-year sentence by Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Mark Donaghy (23) took responsibility for a blue plastic bag containing heroin valued at €195,520.
Garda Thomas Griffin said Donaghy told them he was paid €300 to hold the heroin for another person, whom he wouldn't identify out of fear for his life, and took it with him that day because he was moving bedrooms at home and he didn't want his mother to find it.
Man jailed for assault with bottle
A heroin user who threw a bottle at the face of Chinese national and left him with a risk of having long-term sight difficulties has been given a three-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Michael "Dicer" Connors (25), previously of Sheelin Avenue, Ballybrack, pleaded guilty to assaulting Zhang Wei at Eglinton Service Station, Cabinteely, on October 30th, 2004.
Connors, who now lives in hostels, has 45 previous convictions.
Driving ban for speeding car thief
A 17-year-old boy who drove a stolen car at 160kmh and nearly caused several motor collisions has been given a six-month suspended sentence and disqualified from driving for two years.
The teen had asked not to be given a road ban because he wanted to become a taxi driver, the Dublin Children's Court heard.
The boy admitted stealing the car, driving without a licence and insurance, failing to stop for gardaí and dangerous driving.