A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Man (71) pleads guilty to drug charge
A 71-year-old man caught with cannabis herb valued at almost €60,000 has been given a seven-year sentence with five years suspended by Judge Patrick McCartan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Pieter Botes checked into a city centre hotel when his bag didn't arrive on the flight from Johannesburg, South Africa, via Amsterdam and was arrested the following day when he returned to Dublin airport to collect it.
Botes, 23 Diering Road, Rosetonville, Johannesburg, pleaded guilty to having 5.96kg of the drug at the airport on December 14th, 2006 for sale or supply.
18 months for cocaine possession
A man in jail for firearms offences and witness intimidation who was caught with cocaine during an appearance at Dublin District Court in November two years ago, has been sentenced to 18 months' jail.
Daniel Gaynor (21), Berryfield Drive, Finglas, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having cocaine and Diazepan for sale or supply on November 24th, 2005.
Judge Katherine Delahunt sentenced Gaynor to 18 months with the final six months suspended to run concurrently with his current prison terms.
Escapee gets 7-year sentence
An escapee from an English prison where he was serving a drugs sentence was given a seven-year sentence by Judge Patrick McCartan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his part in an attempted armed robbery.
Michael Breen (32), Rowlagh Crescent, Clondalkin, maintains his innocence despite his conviction by a jury earlier this year for possession of a pellet gun for an unlawful purpose at Knocklyon Road, Templeogue on March 15th, 2006.
Footballer injured after 'argy-bargy'
A talented young footballer who headbutted a teenager in an "argy-bargy" between two groups of youths was left shocked and injured because his victim had titanium teeth. Kelvin Dennan (19), Fairways Park, Finglas East pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault with intent to cause bodily harm to Michael Donoghue and to assault causing Ray Mongy harm at the Central Bank Plaza, Dame Street on May 14th, 2006.
Appeal won in stalker case
A man, who had made a young student and part-time model's life a misery by stalking her, won the sympathy of a judge yesterday when he appealed a criminal conviction and suspended jail sentence.
Judge Joseph Matthews said software designer Paul Meehan was a seriously disturbed psychotic when he had, through a fantasy relationship with 21-year-old fellow TCD student Eleanor Winters, turned her life into a nightmare.