In Short

A round-up of today's other stories in brief...

A round-up of today's other stories in brief...

Dispute over sale contract on Foxrock house

A dispute over whether a contract for the €6.1 million sale of a large property and lands at Brighton Road, Foxrock, Dublin, is binding has come before the Commercial Court.

Aidan and Hilary Forde, Cross Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin, are claiming a contract of February 21st for the sale of the Foxrock property is validly rescinded and they are entitled to the return of their €617,500 deposit.

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They say they intended to develop the site but that the actual measurements of the property do not accord with what was indicated, thus affecting the development potential.

Their claims are disputed by Derek Hickey and Brian Kennedy, as representatives and executors of the estate of the late Dermot Hickey, who in a counter claim are seeking specific performance of the €6.1 million contract.

College decision to be reviewed

An internet-based college is not proceeding with its legal challenge to a decision by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council not to grant formal recognition to its courses following Hetac's decision to reconsider.

Warnborough College, which offers degree and postgraduate qualifications over the internet, had sought leave from the High Court to judicially review a Hetac decision not to agree Quality Assurance Procedures with the college.

Student jailed for credit card fraud

A student has been jailed for five months for using details, phished from a Frenchman's credit card, to book three rooms and meals at a five-star Galway Hotel last August.

Kehinde Oduneye (22), Lucan, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty before Galway District Court to booking the rooms over the internet on August 22nd, at a cost of €1,142, using details phished from a Frenchman's Visa credit card.

Couple crushed by car at Dublin airport

A couple saying goodbye to each other outside their car at Dublin airport early yesterday ended up having to be treated in hospital after a passing vehicle crushed them.

Gardaí said a woman had got out of her car outside the departures area and was saying goodbye to her husband when another car moved off and penned them both between the two vehicles.

They were both treated at Beaumont Hospital for non life-threatening injuries.

Man arrested on porn charges

A 47-year-old man at the centre of an international child pornography investigation was yesterday remanded in custody.

The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with producing and possessing child pornography.

Det Sgt Vincent Healy told Swords District Court in north Co Dublin that he charged the accused yesterday at Balbriggan Garda station.

The man made no reply when handed a copy of the charge sheet, he said.

Gardaí asked the court to impose a media restriction on the publication of the accused's name and address because investigations were ongoing.The accused was remanded in custody to appear again at Cloverhill District Court on Thursday next.

Ruhama launches new campaign

A new advertising campaign targeting men who solicit sex from victims of human trafficking was launched yesterday.

The campaign by Ruhama, an organisation which works with women involved in prostitution, follows on from legislation enacted earlier this year, criminalising the users of women who are victims of sex trafficking.

Kathleen Fahy, director of Ruhama said: "This campaign focuses on the users of trafficked women, those who buy sexual services and without whom the trade in human flesh would not be so lucrative".

It was time to bring the buyers to prominence in the evil crime of sex trafficking, she added.

Labour's 'Big Sister' service

A mentoring service for Labour Party women running in next year's local elections was launched yesterday by the party's deputy leader, Joan Burton.

Based on a model introduced by the Democratic Party in the US, the "Big Sister is Helping You" service will see current and former female Labour Party politicians offering practical advice and psychological support to women hoping to take seats in their local councils. The mentor will be available as a role model, educator, adviser, confidante, guide and friend, according to the party's programme brochure.

The Labour Party has so far selected 138 local election candidates, 38 of these are women, representing just over 27 per cent. Not all selection conventions have been held.

Although women have voted in local elections in Ireland since 1898 and make up 50 per cent of the electorate, only 16 per cent of councillors elected around the country in 2004 were women. Some 20 per cent of Labour councillors elected were women.

Man in 'Behan' case arrested

An Italian man is expected to be charged with the murder of an elderly woman in Tuscany which made international headlines last July when police investigating the killing mistakenly arrested an Irish actor, writes Paddy Agnew.

Aldo Staiani (27) was arrested last Friday for the murder of Silvana Abate (72) in the little Tuscan village of Arcidosso, close to Grosseto.

In the days immediately after the murder, police had mistakenly arrested Irish actor Paudge Behan (43), the son of Cathal Goulding and of Beatrice Behan, widow of playwright Brendan Behan.