In Short

A round-up of today's other stories in brief.

A round-up of today's other stories in brief.

No charges after child porn inquiry

The DPP has decided not to prosecute a well known professional in Co Louth who was the subject of a Garda inquiry into the alleged possession of child porn. The man, who is in his 40s, was interviewed by gardaí last June after the inquiry uncovered credit card records related to images downloaded from the internet.

The man, who is to be married and has a number of children, called to Drogheda Garda station by arrangement with detectives and was interviewed by investigating officers. This was after a computer, which was seized from his home, had been forensically examined.

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Three teenagers get jail terms

Three Clondalkin teenagers involved in a fracas which led to the death of a 51-year-old "good Samaritan", have been sentenced to a total of 12 years in prison by Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Mark Beresford (19), of Foxdene Gardens, was sentenced to six years for the manslaughter of Oliver Leacy, at Celbridge Road, Leixlip, who was defending his home and two men who had gone into it seeking refuge from the three attackers on August 12th, 2005. Martin Kerrigan (18) of Foxdene Drive, was sentenced to three years for assaulting the deceased man's son.

Stewart Kearns (19), also of Foxdene Drive, was sentenced to three years on two counts of assault causing harm to the dead man's son and to one of the men who had gone into the house for safety. The judge suspended the last two years of Beresford's and Kerrigan's sentences and the final year of Kearns' term.

Addict convicted of syringe raids

A chronic cocaine addict who sent written apologies to most of the victims of more than 20 syringe robbery crimes has been sentenced to nine years in prison by Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Thomas Thompson (35), of Tymonville Drive, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to 27 robberies and five attempted robberies between April 14th, 2005, and January 18th, 2006. His crimes included muggings on 21 taxi drivers. The judge suspended the last year of the sentence on strict terms and conditions.

Man gets four years for rape

A Cork man who raped a teenage girl after he and his brother spent €300 on cocaine and alcohol has been jailed for four years by Ms Justice Maureen Clark at the Central Criminal Court.

Keith Walsh (27), a plasterer, of Ardcullen, Hollyhill, was found guilty on day five of his trial in March during which the then 16-year-old victim said he was "on a buzz from cocaine". Walsh denied he raped the girl on October 23rd, 2005, and claimed they had consensual sex in the back seat of his car.

Two assaulted Indian man

Two Dublin men who assaulted an Indian man on his way to a hospital appointment with his pregnant wife have had their sentences adjourned at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Jonathan Grimes (19), of Rutland Street Lower, and Jonathan Parrott (20), of Portland Row, both in Summerhill, pleaded guilty to assaulting Shivakumar Kataboina on December 12th, 2005.