More news in brief.
Icing blamed for air crash
An aircraft that stalled and then spiralled to the ground in Co Westmeath, claiming the lives of the two pilots in
May 2006, had probably lost power as a result of carburettor icing, an investigation has found.
Liam Ryan (38), from Clontarf, Dublin, and Joseph McCabe (38), from Lucan, Dublin, were on a training exercise from the National Flight Centre at Weston aerodrome in Dublin when the aircraft nose-dived into a field outside the village of Raharney.
In his report yesterday John Hughes of the Department of Transport's air accident investigation unit said that in investigating fatal air accidents it "can prove difficult to come to a definitive probable cause".
Mr Hughes said that while weather conditions were good at the time of the crash, the temperature and dew point conditions were conducive to "severe" carburettor icing.
He was unable to determine which pilot was flying at the moment control was lost or during subsequent events.
Port tunnel strike threat
The Dublin Port Tunnel faces possible closure later this month due to a strike planned by staff in a row over pay.
Trade union Siptu said yesterday it had served 14 days' strike notice on Transroute Tunnel Operations, the tunnel operator. It said the strike would start on July 23rd and if it went ahead, the tunnel would close. Siptu said the dispute centred on a claim by staff to bring their pay and conditions into line with industry norms.
Staff could earn over 30 per cent less than the average industry wage, even though they provide a round the clock service, the union said.
"Transroute, unlike other toll operators, does not give the normal shift pay, Sunday premium or overtime rates. As a result, our members' earnings are significantly out of line with industry norms," said Siptu branch organiser Owen Reidy.
Siptu said its members had rejected a Labour Court recommendation because "despite progress on a number of key items, it left a large number of them even worse off than at present".
€10,000 luggage claim dismissed
A court has dismissed a €10,000 claim for cash, jewellery and designer goods allegedly stolen from luggage on an Air France flight from Dublin to Paris.
Judge Jacqueline Linnane was told Aminata Bonnet had not taken out any insurance for a suitcase which was carried in the aircraft baggage hold. The translator, of Watling Street, Dublin, told the court that when she arrived at Charles de Gaulle her suitcase was missing. When it was located all that was left were baby clothes. Air France disputed the loss of €5,000 cash, a Christian Dior bag, two Louis Vuitton bags, a diamond ring, earrings, clothes, mobile phone, a DVD player and miscellaneous goods.
It was dismissed on the basis of too many inconsistencies in evidence and because she was unable to prove her claim under Article 22 (5) of the Montreal Convention on International Carriage.
Waste firm can expand its service to city
Dublin City Council has failed to obtain a High Court injunction to prevent a private waste company from expanding into its administrative area.
The council had sought the injunction to apply until the outcome of legal proceedings by Panda Waste Services challenging the council's proposed new waste collection regime.
However, Mr Justice Liam McKechnie ruled yesterday that the council had failed to establish sufficient grounds for the granting of an injunction to prevent Nurendale Ltd, trading as Panda Waste Services, Rathdrinagh, Beauparc Business Park, Navan, Co Meath, from expanding its household collection service into the city area.
It provides the service to 28,000 homes in Dún Laoghaire and to about 1,000 each in Fingal and south Dublin.
Mother to visit US over son's killing
The mother of a young Irishman who was shot and killed by police last week in the US is travelling to Oregon to meet Marion County district attorney Walt Beglau.
Andrew Hanlon's mother, Dorothea Carroll, is likely to meet Mr Beglau tomorrow, the Oregoniannewspaper reported yesterday.
Mr Hanlon was shot by police on June 30th near the scene of a burglary in Silverton, the town he had been living in for the past year. The police officer has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.
Settlement in 'Riverdance' case
A former drummer with Riverdancewho claims his career is at an end as a result of noise-induced hearing loss caused while working with the show has settled his High Court action for a figure believed to be about €100,000.
Paul Moran (54) said he had earned €86,000 a year with Riverdance but had to give up his career as a professional musician. He alleged negligence on the part of the defendant in exposing him to excessive noise levels without supplying ear protection.
Liability was admitted and the case was before the court to assess damages only.
Three people die in road incidents
Three people, including a four-year-old boy, have lost their lives in separate road traffic accidents.
The boy died near Abbeydorney, Co Kerry yesterday and was named as Johnny Nolan. It is thought he was fatally injured after falling from a tractor that was travelling on the road at about 12.50pm at Derryvrin, north of Abbeydorney.
No other vehicle was involved and it is understood he was with his father at the time. In Co Galway, a pedestrian (39) died after he was hit by a truck at 2.30pm on the N6 at Creagh, Ballinasloe and in Co Meath, a 46 year-old-man died after his van crashed on the Kilmessan to Dunsaney Road.
Six-figure sum for facial injuries
A fitter who suffered severe facial and other injuries after the trailer of a lorry he was working on in England collapsed on top of him has settled his High Court action for what is believed to be a six-figure sum. Joseph Burke (52), Bective, Navan, Co Meath, required reconstruction surgery after the incident, the court heard.
Man jailed for 'vicious' assault
A man who broke a man's jaw with a hammer has been jailed for three years by Judge Frank O'Donnell.
Peter Flood (28), Cherry Avenue, Swords, Co Dublin, assaulted the man after he kissed and shared a taxi home with Flood's then girlfriend. The judge described the attack as "vicious". Flood pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting the victim causing him harm on September 10th, 2006.