More news in brief
A bricklayer who broke a bone in his right foot when ground subsided under him in Wicklow National Park, Glendalough, has lost a €38,000 damages claim against the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and The Islands.
In a decision of huge significance, particularly to landowners, Judge Mary Faherty said no property owner was obliged in law to guard against "every conceivable danger" that might exist on his or her land or premises.
She told counsel for the minister that David Lynskey (29), Newbawn Drive, Tallaght, Dublin, had failed to overcome the heavy evidential burden imposed on claimants by the Occupiers Liability Act.
Mother of accused tells of difficulties
The mother of the youth accused of murdering a man because he was English told a jury in the Central Criminal Court yesterday that he was withdrawn as he was growing up and could not write.
The body of James Burke (20) lay undiscovered in a field where the alleged murder took place after a drinking session, beside a car park at the Liffey Valley shopping centre, Clondalkin, Dublin.
Liz Walsh, a mother of six, was giving evidence in the trial of her son, Kevin Walsh (18), Allenton Green, Tallaght, Dublin, who denies murdering Mr Burke between September 22nd and 26th, 2005.
Ms Walsh told Michael O'Higgins SC, defending, that her son was not well integrated socially growing up and he had difficulty remembering things. She said he was also exposed to violence in the home.
The trial before Mr Justice O'Sullivan and a jury continues.
Legal argument in perjury trial
The trial of two detective gardaí accused of perjury during the 2001 trial of a suspect in the Omagh bombing has continued in legal argument at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Det Garda John Fahy (53), Glaslough, Co Monaghan, and Det Garda Liam Donnelly (50), Cavan town, gave evidence in the 2001 trial of Colm Murphy and have pleaded not guilty to charges of perjury, forgery and using a forged document.
The hearing continues before Judge Desmond Hogan.
Man pleads guilty to indecent assault
A north Wicklow man who indecently assaulted two female family members more than 30 years ago has been remanded for sentence in January by Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill at the Central Criminal Court.
The 55-year-old pleaded guilty just before his trial was scheduled to begin on two charges of indecently assaulting one of the women, from 1970 to 1974, and to six counts of indecently assaulting the second woman from 1970 to 1980. He remanded him on continuing bail for sentence.
Mr Justice O'Neill directed that he be registered a sex offender and that victim impact statements be prepared for the sentence hearing when evidence of the crimes will be given by Det Sgt Thomas Byrne.
Boy (15) held over counterfeit cards
A Romanian teenager arrested for possession of two counterfeit bank cards has been remanded in custody for a week by Judge Bryan Smyth at the Dublin Children's Court.
The 15-year-old boy, an unaccompanied minor, was arrested for possession of the credit cards on Dublin's Grafton Street.
Garda Patrick O'Gorman objected to bail saying the teen violently resisted arrest, did not have an address and was unco-operative when asked about his personal details.
He said he was found with €950 in cash as well as about £75. The boy claimed he travelled to the State from Northern Ireland in search of work with two adult males.