More news in brief
A search for a missing 27-year-old woman in outside Kilkenny was called off after she was found safe and well in Dublin late last night.
A coast guard helicopter had been scrambled from Waterford to assist in the search for the woman, who went missing earlier yesterday.
Gardaí had focused their search on Ballycallen, about two miles outside Kilkenny. However, they later confirmed that she had been found unharmed in Dublin. They would not elaborate on the circumstances which led to her disappearance.
July trial date for explosives charge
The Special Criminal Court has fixed July 12th for a Co Wicklow man to be tried for possession of an explosive device at the M1 motorway last year.
Colin Conlon (37), Blessington, Co Wicklow, is charged with the unlawful possession of 104 rounds of ammunition at Burgage industrial estate on November 25th and with the unlawful possession of an improvised explosive device with a timing power unit at the M1 motorway at Cloghran, Co Dublin, on the same date.
Children treated after car set on fire
Three children suffering from smoke inhalation were taken to hospital in Waterford early yesterday after a car was set on fire in Priory Lawn, Ballybeg.
The children, who are aged nine, seven and 11 months, were discharged from Waterford Regional Hospital yesterday following oxygen treatment.
Gardaí are investigating a similar incident in Clonard Park, also in Ballybeg, which occurred some hours later. Emergency services were again called at 6.50am to a car fire in the driveway of a house.
€7,000 award for defamation
A Co Meath bank official, who was defamed when an agent from another bank turned up to repossess her car, has been awarded €7,000 damages and her legal costs in the Circuit Civil Court against Bank of Scotland.
Marie Byrne, Luttrell Hall, Dunboyne, worked for TSB Bank and bought a vehicle through a hire purchase agreement with Bank of Scotland in August 2000.
In August 2003, Bank of Scotland debt recovery agent Denis Palmer told her husband he had been instructed to repossess the car, stating, "payments have not been made for over two years". Mr Palmer denied he discussed Ms Byrne's account with her husband.
Mr Justice Matthew Deery said Ms Byrne had moved home but had paid for An Post to forward her mail. He was satisfied she had made her repayments to Bank of Scotland and there had been a defamation of character.
Charges dropped as Malaysians leave
Charges against eight Malaysian nationals relating to employment and immigration were withdrawn at Arklow court, Co Wicklow, yesterday after it was revealed they had left the jurisdiction.
Two in court on drugs charges
Two men have appeared in Dublin District Court charged in connection with last Monday's seizure of €2.8 million worth of cannabis in north Dublin.
Alan Whelan (28), East Wall, Dublin, and David White (42), Marion Way, Liverpool, were charged with possession for supply at Baskin Lane, Cloghran. They were remanded in custody to appear in court on March 22nd.
Application for licence rejected
An application from a club on St Stephen's Green, Dublin, for a once-off bar extension for March 16th, has been rejected. The Dandelion Club sought a temporary lifting of a recently imposed restriction on its late-night bar licence following an objection from the neighbouring five-star Fitzwilliam Hotel.