In Short

A roundup of today's other home news in brief:

A roundup of today's other home news in brief:

Weightlifter given 12 years for shooting

A man was sentenced to 12 years in prison yesterday for the shooting of another man in Galway city last April after a trial in which the jury were told how playground squabbles between the children of two rival Traveller families led to a bitter feud.

Champion weightlifter Anthony McDonagh (43), Tulach Ard, Circular Road, Galway, had denied two charges of possession of a shotgun and shotgun cartridges with intent to endanger life at Whitestrand Road, Salthill, Galway.

READ MORE

McDonagh, who has represented Ireland in weightlifting, also denied a charge of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Martin Ward.

Det Sgt Willie Byrne told Galway Circuit Criminal Court yesterday that a bitter feud between the McDonagh and Ward families began some years ago over "hassle" in the playground between children from both families.

Seafood firm manager fined

A manager at a seafood company has been fined €7,000 for refusing to co-operate with an investigation into the origin of a significant quantity of expensive fish.

Micheál Geary, assistant manager at Union Hall Fishermen's Company Ltd, was charged on seven counts relating to the obstruction of Sea Fisheries Protection Officers at Skibbereen District Court, Co Cork.

Geary was found guilty of obstructing the officers while they were investigating the landings and sale on November 29th, 2007.

EC begins sanction process

The European Commission has begun a sanction process against the Government for its failure to comply with a European Court of Justice ruling relating to the payment of compensation to people in traffic collisions involving uninsured vehicles.

Under the terms of the 2004 motor insurance agreement between the Minister for Transport and the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland, no compensation is paid to people involved in accidents where all of the vehicles involved are uninsured.

However, the European Court of Justice has ruled that the payment of compensation should extend to all persons involved in the accidents except the drivers of the vehicles.

Inquiry into use of restraint

The State's mental health watchdog yesterday confirmed that it has established an inquiry into use of restraint and seclusion on psychiatric patients at two hospitals Co Tipperary, writes Carl O'Brien

The Mental Health Commission says the inquiry is focused on St Michael's Unit, in South Tipperary General Hospital, Clonmel and St Luke's Hospital, Clonmel.

The inquiry team is examining the quality and planning of care available to patients, as well as whether the use of restraint on patients was appropriate. The deliberations are expected to be completed shortly.

Late night Luas services begin

Late night services on the Luas will begin tonight on the Sandyford and Tallaght lines for the festive season.

The night trams, costing €4, will run every 30 minutes each weekend between now and Christmas. Some services will end at 3am while others will continue until 3.30am. Night Luas services will also run on weekday nights in the week before Christmas and on New Year's Eve.

Woman's body due back in State

The body of a young Irish woman who drowned in Vietnam is due home in the coming days. Tara Sheridan (23), Maree, Oranmore, Co Galway, drowned last Wednesday week. She was on her way to Australia and was travelling with two friends.