In Short

A roundup of today's other court stories in brief

A roundup of today's other court stories in brief

Judgment on sex change birth cert due

The High Court is due to deliver judgment today on a 10-year landmark legal battle by a Co Kildare dentist who underwent a sex change operation, writes Mary Carolan. The action is aimed at securing a birth certificate describing her as female.

Dr Lydia Foy, Athy, Co Kildare, was born male but had gender realignment surgery 15 years ago. She has abandoned an earlier claim for her original birth certificate to be altered and instead wants a new birth certificate reflecting her female gender.

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Mr Justice Liam McKechnie is due to deliver his judgment this afternoon. The case was heard over six days last April.

Boy sues for birth negligence

A six-year-old boy sustained severe injuries and has cerebral palsy because of alleged negligence during delivery and after his birth at a Limerick maternity hospital, it was claimed in the High Court yesterday.

Jamie Sarsfield, through his mother Laura, Thomondgate, Co Limerick, has sued the Midwestern Health Board for serious injuries allegedly sustained as a result of negligence in the management of his birth at St Munchin's Regional Maternity Hospital, Ennis Road, Limerick, on February 5th, 2001.

The defendant has denied the claims.

The case has opened before Mr Justice John Edwards and is expected to run for several weeks.

Teenager found by satellite technology

A teenager who was arrested for breaking into cars after satellite technology tracked a stolen GPS and led gardaí to his hiding place, has received a nine-month sentence in St Patrick's Institution.

The north inner city Dublin boy (16) had pleaded guilty at the Children's Court to theft, criminal damage and interference with motor vehicles.

The court had been told that the stolen GPS (global positioning system) unit led gardaí to the boy.

Teen on charge of attempted murder

A Limavady teenager has appeared in court charged with attempted murder in the Co Derry town.

John McNicholl (18), Drumachose Park, is accused of attempting to murder John Hazlett at Drumachose Park last Tuesday. He is also charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm on John Carlin last Wednesday.

Man on bomb threat charges

A man alleged to be a member of a group styling itself the Scottish National Liberation Army has been sent for trial to the Circuit Criminal Court in Dublin.

It is alleged that Adam Busby, formerly of East Lothian, of Ballybough, Dublin, phoned the Northern Constabulary in Scotland in May last year, saying there was a bomb under Kissock Bridge and that he sent e-mails to a British airline and a US airline saying that aircraft in flight had bombs on board.

Judge Anne Watkin, at Cloverhill District Court, granted free legal aid.

Man had drugs in open prison

A man has received a jail sentence of one month from Judge William Hammill at Arklow District court after being found in possession of drugs in an open prison. Conor Daly, Youghal, Cork, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis at Shelton Abbey on March 12th.

Youth died from effects of diabetic coma

A Dublin teenager who was on temporary release from a detention centre for young offenders died from the combined effects of a diabetic coma and methadone intoxication, an inquest has heard yesterday.

Craig Davis (16), Marian Grove, Rathfarnham, died on November 5th, 2005, just three weeks after the death of his older sister Lisa (22), Dublin City Coroner's Court was told.

He had been socialising with friends on November 4th, having been released from Trinity House in Lusk earlier that day and had taken alcohol, hash and methadone during the night.

When a friend, Suzanne Lawlor, was unable to rouse him the next morning, the emergency services were called, but by the time they arrived he had gone into respiratory and cardiac failure. The coroner returned a verdict of death by misadventure.

Autistic boy's case is settled

A High Court action aimed at recovering the expenses of educating a 14- year-old autistic boy at home has been settled.

David Banfield, suing through his mother Deirdre, of Glen Easton Green, Leixlip, Co Kildare, had sought court orders aimed at compelling the Ministers for Education and Health and the State to cover the educational and therapeutic expenses incurred by David's parents when providing a home-based programme for him between 2002 and 2003.

The case was due to open yesterday but, after discussions between the sides, Mr Justice Roderick Murphy was told the matter had been settled without admission of liability.

Jury discharged in sex abuse case

The jury in the trial of a north Dublin teacher accused of unlawful carnal knowledge of one of his pupils has been discharged.

Judge Frank O'Donnell discharged the jury just before he was to begin his charge to them on day four of the trial and after closing speeches by prosecuting and defence counsels.

The 48-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of unlawful carnal knowledge of a then 16-year- old transition year student at the school in March 2002.