More court-related stroies in brief.
Farmer cleared of 15 charges of sex assault
A Tipperary farmer (69) has been found not guilty by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury of sexual assaults on two Traveller boys.
The jury acquitted him on 15 counts of gross indecency, sexual assault and false imprisonment involving two teenagers between November 2000 and February 2002.
On day five of the trial the jury returned its verdicts in under four hours and the farmer was discharged by Judge Michael White.
Case against dead man struck out
Firearms charges against a man who was shot dead two weeks ago at Blackhorse Avenue, Dublin, in what gardaí believe was a gangland shooting, have been struck out at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Shea Bradley (27), North King Street, Dublin, had been charged in connection with a shooting at Pollyhops pub, Newcastle, Co Dublin, in September 2005 in which a man was shot in the groin.
Judge Katherine Delahunt agreed to make no order after she was advised that Bradley had "passed away".
Boy caught twice in stolen cars
A 14-year-old schoolboy was caught riding in stolen cars twice within four hours, a court heard yesterday. The boy appeared at the Children's Court yesterday charged with unlawful carriage in stolen cars, first at Gardiner Lane, Dublin, and later that evening at Greencastle Avenue, Coolock, on February 11th.
Judge James Paul McDonnell said: "He went from the care of his mother to joyriding, went to the Garda station, then was released into the care of his mother and then went joyriding a second time."
Defence solicitor Michelle Finan said the north inner city Dublin boy had been associating with a negative peer group and his mother had done a parenting course.
Ms Finan said the boy had some educational difficulties, but he was taking part in a sporting activities in his spare time.
Judge McDonnell ordered a pre-sentence probation report which he ordered that he should address his educational achievements and evening activities.
He encouraged the boy to continue his involvement in his sporting interests and remanded him on continuing bail until May.
Parents settle after son's crash death
The parents of a 11-year-old boy who died following a road crash in Co Donegal have settled a High Court action for €110,000 damages for shock and mental distress.
Seán McFadden, Falcarragh, Co Donegal, died three days after a car crash on May 14th, 1999. He was a back-seat passenger in a car driven by his brother Martin (19), which collided with another car at Carrowcannon, Falcarragh.
Seán and his sister Patricia (21) were brought to Letterkenny General Hospital while Martin was transferred to Beaumont Hospital.
Mary and Patrick Joseph McFadden, Derryreel, Falcarragh, had sued Martin McFadden of the same address; the other driver, Seosamh Ó Ceallaigh, and the North Western Health Board.
It was claimed that as a result of Seán's untimely death, the McFaddens had suffered severe shock and mental distress.
Mr Justice Diarmuid O'Donovan was told yesterday the McFaddens were a closely knit family. He approved the settlement of €110,000.