In Short

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

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

Galway-born US senator back for holiday

A Co Galway woman, who was elected as a Democratic senator for Maine in last Tuesday's US elections, returned to her home village of Letterard in Connemara yesterday at the start of a brief holiday.

Margaret Craven (née Connolly) - a native Irish speaker - emigrated to Boston as a teenager in the 1960s and has lived in the US since. She is understood to be the only Irish-born state senator in the US.

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Ms Craven and her husband flew into Shannon airport yesterday morning and they were greeted by a crowd of family and friends when she arrived in Letterard yesterday afternoon.

On the way, she stopped off in Spiddal, Co Galway, where she met fellow Democratic state senator Barry Hobbins, who was holidaying in the area.

Man charged with Ennis burglaries

A man has appeared in court in Co Galway to face charges arising out of a Garda investigation into a series of more than 50 burglaries carried out in Ennis, Co Clare, over the past two months.

Ali Reza Velagati (39), an Iranian national, with an address at Kilrush Road, Ennis, appeared before Kinvara District Court.

He was charged with three counts of burglary and one of handling stolen property. Further charges are expected to follow.

Judge Joseph Mangan remanded him to Shannon District Court in Ennis on Thursday.

Charged with rape of child in 1970s

A jury has been sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of a Galway man charged with raping a child more than 30 years ago.

The 57-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape in 1972 and 1979, and to one count of indecent assault in 1971.

The hearing is scheduled to start later in the week when a judge and court become available.

Caretaker cleared of assault charge

A Kildare primary school caretaker has been found not guilty by a jury of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl in 2006 in her classroom.

The 62-year-old man was acquitted by the jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on the third day of his trial.

Judge Desmond Hogan thanked the jury and discharged the accused.

The man denied he sexually assaulted the girl on February 20th, 2006, and said the allegation had ruined his life.

He told the jury he would never harm a child.

Senator defends 'fair deal' plan

Fianna Fáil Senator Mary White yesterday told members of Clare County Council that the new "fair deal" scheme for residents of nursing homes is affordable, accessible and anxiety free,

In Ennis to meet councillors and advance the case for the Nursing Home Support Scheme Bill that is due to come before the Dáil this week, Senator White said that at the moment people are being treated unequally when it comes to nursing home charges.