More court reports in brief.
Supreme Court to give Bupa appeal verdict
The Supreme Court will give judgment today on the appeal by Bupa against the High Court's rejection of its challenge to the risk-equalisation scheme.
The appeal was heard by the five-judge court last November and it reserved judgment.
A temporary block on a requirement that new companies in the private health insurance market must make risk-equalisation payments to the State-backed VHI has continued pending the Supreme Court decision.
Risk equalisation means other insurance companies must compensate VHI for its older and less profitable customer base.
Earlier this year, the European Court of First Instance dismissed Bupa's appeal against a European Commission decision to approve the scheme on the basis that the Government was entitled to compel Bupa to make compensatory payments to the VHI.
The stay on the introduction of risk equalisation was obtained in July 2007 by the Quinn Group, which took over Bupa earlier that year.
The Quinn Group has argued in separate proceedings yet to be determined that it is not obliged to make risk-equalisation payments for three years. It claims it would incur costs of €30 million if obliged to make payments.
Accused sought help for addiction
A Meath man accused of murdering his friend told a doctor he wanted treatment for alcohol addiction a month before the alleged murder, the Central Criminal Court has heard.
John Mooney (29), also known as John Paul, Trim Road, Summerhill, Co Meath, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Thomas Canning (42), also from Summerhill, at Lough Lene, Collinstown, Co Westmeath, on August 30th last year.
He has pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing him.
Dr Joseph Clarke told Michael Durack SC, prosecuting, that he had known Mr Mooney since he began his Summerhill practice more than 20 years ago. He last saw Mr Mooney on July 30th last year, a month before the alleged murder.
Mr Mooney told him that he had recently returned from London and had been drinking heavily.
"He said that he wanted to get off the drink and wanted to be admitted to Cluain Mhuire treatment centre." Dr Clarke told the jury that he gave Mr Mooney medication to alleviate the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
Dr Gerard Maher said he had a private consultation with Mr Mooney on August 30th at Mullingar station.
Mr Mooney told Dr Maher that he had had some cannabis at the camper-van the night before and that he had "wrapped it in Rizla paper and swallowed it as he knew the guards were coming to the scene".
Dr Richard Lynch of the Midlands Regional Hospital told the jury that Mr Mooney told him he had drunk "17 cans of beer and had been having line after line of cocaine, approximately an ounce of cocaine . . . and smoked three joints."
Burger shop told to close earlier
Kilkenny Borough Council has secured an injunction against Supermacs that compels the fast-food restaurant to close its doors at 1am and two hours earlier on the weekend, amid concern over public disorder.
Supermacs franchise holder Paul O'Brien said he was disappointed with the order and claimed it would lead to considerable job cuts.
"Chips and burgers don't get people drunk or high," said Mr O'Brien.