In Short

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

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

Man held after €4m heroin seizure on M50

Some 20kg of heroin worth an estimated €4 million was seized from a car on the M50 yesterday evening.

A man in his early 20s was arrested after gardaí stopped the car on the Dublin motorway. He was brought to Blanchardstown Garda station where he was being held under the Drug Trafficking Act last night.

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The operation was carried out by the Garda Drugs Unit.

Independent councillor for FG

An Independent Dublin councillor, Derek Keating, is set to be unveiled by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny as the party's latest recruit in Leinster House this morning, Fine Gael announced last night.

Fine Gael refused to identify its new recruit, though it was at pains to emphasise that it would not be another defector from the Progressive Democrats.

Mr Keating's decision to join Fine Gael will be seen as a sign that the party is keen that he should seek a nomination to run for the party in Dublin Mid-West in the next general election. He won over 7 per cent of the first preference vote when he ran unsuccessfully as an Independent in last year's general election.

File for DPP over Dublin shooting

Two people being questioned by gardaí as part of their investigation into the shooting of a man in Dublin last week were released without charge yesterday.

A 22-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man were being held at Malahide and Coolock Garda stations under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act.

The 21-year-old victim was shot at Buttercup Park in Darndale after 7pm on Friday when a gunman approached him as he was sitting in his car. It is believed a number of shots were fired, with one hitting the victim. He was taken to Beaumont Hospital, where he is in a critical condition. A file will be sent to the DPP.

Women elected to top positions

For the first time in its history, Meath County Council has elected women to the positions of chairperson and vice chairperson of the local authority for the coming year.

Athboy-based Liz McCormack (FF) was elected unopposed as cathaoirleach while Jenny D'Arcy (FG) was unopposed for the position of vice-chair.

Jury sworn in for murder trial

A jury has been sworn in at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin for the trial of a homeless man accused of murder.

Stephen Byrne (35) has denied murdering William Traynor at St Francis Terrace, Bow Street, Dublin on June 19th, 2007.

The trial is due to begin tomorrow.

Man on indecent images charges

A computer analyst appeared in court in Derry yesterday charged with downloading indecent images of children from the internet.

Christopher John Temple, (24), Barnwall Place, Waterside, is charged with committing the nine offences between November 2004 and October 2005.

Sentence date to be set for assault

A Mayo resident is to be sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting a man who has been left wheelchair bound and requiring life-long care as a result of serious brain injuries.

James Byrne (26), Ridgepool Apartments, Barrett Street, Ballina, pleaded guilty to assaulting Noel Hudson (22) causing him harm on March 18th, 2006 at Corrig Avenue, Dún Laoghaire.

Judge Patricia Ryan remanded Byrne on continuing bail and listed the case for mention later this month to set a sentence date.