A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Anonymous message ends rape trial
There has been a sudden end to a Tipperary rape trial at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin with the discharge of the jury as a result of an anonymous message written into a juror's notebook.
Mr Justice Roderick Murphy discharged the jury after a female juror notified the court about the message which she said was not written by her. She said it referred to the case in which a 25-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to raping a then teenage woman in Tipperary on November 21st, 2004. A new date for hearing the case will be set later.
Citizenship refusal challenged
A woman is challenging a decision of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to refuse her citizenship on the basis that her two sons have convictions for road traffic offences.
Li Gu He (57), a widow, Moorefield Parade, Clondalkin, Dublin, is seeking a judicial review of the Minister's decision to refuse her citizenship.
Her application was refused last May and the refusal cited the fact that her 27- and 28-year-old sons, Jin Xiong Yin and Jin Hui Yin, have convictions. Jin Xiong was convicted of driving without reasonable consideration and Jin Hui has convictions for drink driving and no insurance, it was stated.
Ms Li Gu He said she had no convictions and had not come to the adverse attention of the gardaí.
Applying for leave yesterday to bring a judicial review challenge to the Minister's decision, Feichin McDonagh SC said his client had moved to Ireland with her children in 2000 as a programme refugee.
Autopsy photos not shown at trial
The Court of Criminal Appeal has ruled that a Co Galway man jailed for murder almost 25 years ago is entitled to rely, as evidence in his appeal against his conviction, on autopsy photographs not given to him at the time of his trial.
Michael Joseph Kelly (54), Castleblakeny, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, was jailed for life after he was convicted on March 24th, 1983, of the murder of Margaret Glynn (87) at Keeves, Ballinkore Bridge, Co Galway, on the night of November 14th-15th, 1981. He was freed on licence about a decade ago. Mr Kelly has always denied killing Ms Glynn, fully protests his innocence and claims there was a miscarriage of justice.
Youth on €9,500 heroin charge
A 17-year-old youth, who allegedly had about €9,500 worth of heroin stashed in his bedroom, has been sent forward for trial to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Ann Ryan held that the case was too serious to be heard in the Children's Court. The west Dublin youth had been charged with possession of the drugs, for sale or supply, at his family home on February 19th last, when he was 16.
Man forfeits €67,000 to State
A north Dublin man has had more than €67,000 cash forfeited to the State after a court heard that gardaí were satisfied he was friends with drug dealers and the funds were the proceeds of crime.
David Higgins (27), Balbriggan, who had been arrested on suspicion of money laundering in April, did not contest the application at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.