A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Man acquitted on fatal driving charge
A man has been acquitted by direction of the judge to a jury at the Circuit Criminal Court in Monaghan after a trial for dangerous driving causing the death of a friend who was in his car.
Daniel Sweeney (20), Magherarney, Smithboro, Co Monaghan, had pleaded not guilty to the charge, arising out of a collision involving his car and another near Smithboro in January 2005. His front-seat passenger, James Downey (30), Clones, Co Monaghan, was killed.
Judge John O'Hagan directed the jury to bring in a not guilty verdict after Colm Smith SC, defending, submitted there was conflict in the evidence by the State.
New sex assault charges brought
Fresh charges have been brought against a man already accused of assaulting and falsely imprisoning a woman in the Dublin mountains last year.
Tralee District Court also heard the man is to be sent forward for trial to the Circuit Court. The man (26), who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was yesterday charged with sexual assault.
Judge James O'Connor remanded him to Cork prison to appear at Tralee District Court on January 24th.
Remand on murder charge
A man who is charged with murdering his brother in Tralee, Co Kerry, on New Year's Eve, has been further remanded in custody.
Ailbe Lonergan (31), Quill Street, Tralee, is charged with murdering Michael Lonergan (34) at Baloonagh Estate, Tralee, on December 31st. Judge James O'Connor remanded him to Cork prison to appear again on January 31st.
Sexual assaults on minor admitted
A man has pleaded guilty at the Waterford Circuit Criminal Court to sexually assaulting a girl. The unemployed man was charged with two assaults on a minor, in Co Kilkenny and in Co Waterford.
The Kilkenny assault took place in May 2003 and the second assault occurred at an address in Waterford city a month later. Judge Alice Doyle adjourned sentencing to May 15th pending psychiatric, probation and welfare reports.
Addict admits syringe robberies
A chronic cocaine addict in nine months carried out almost 30 syringe robberies and attempted robberies.
Thomas Thompson (35), Tymonville Drive, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 24 robberies and five attempted robberies between April 2005 and January 2006.
Thompson threatened all his victims with a syringe.
Judge Katherine Delahunt adjourned sentencing to March.
Russian boy remanded on bail
A Russian boy, who was arrested for throwing another teenage asylum seeker out a first-floor window, has been remanded on bail for medical and impact reports on the victim to be obtained.
The teenager (17) has been charged at the Children's Court with assault causing harm at a Dublin asylum hostel for unaccompanied minors, in May last year.
€120,000 paid out over death of brothers
The family of two young men killed in a road accident have settled their High Court action on terms including an admission of liability by an SUV driver, who was stated to be drinking before the accident, and payment of some €120,000.
Dermot Doyle (20) and his 16-year old brother James died after their vehicle, driven by Dermot , was involved in a collision with an SUV at Pollehore, Killurin, Co Wexford, on August 20th. 1996.
The driver of the SUV, Mr John Doyle, no relation of the plaintiffs, of Oularatard, Ferns, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, admitted liability under the terms of settlement.
Mr Justice Declan Budd approved the settlement, including €60,000 in relation to the death of each brother.
Two held after €400,00 drugs raid
Gardaí made another large seizure of drugs last night when a car was stopped and searched outside Portlaoise. The estimated value of the haul is €400,000 depending on its purity. In a follow-up joint operation by the Drugs Unit in Clonmel and the Garda National Drugs Unit a house was searched where a further seizure was made.
A man and a woman, both in their 20s, were arrested and both were being detained at Portlaoise Garda station under the Drug Trafficking Act.
Durkan upbeat after meeting
SDLP leader Mark Durkan yesterday described as "very positive" a meeting with Minister for Finance Brian Cowen to discuss the National Development Plan and Northern input into it, writes Miriam Donohoe.
Speaking after the meeting in Dublin, Mr Durkan said the benefits of expenditure from the Irish Government in the North would help the whole island economy.
The meeting was the latest in a series between the SDLP and Irish Government Ministers to discuss the party's "North South Makes Sense" campaign.
4-month ban for man doing 191km/h
A Co Wexford motorist, who was caught driving at 191km/h (119mph) on the bypass outside Arklow, was banned for four months at Arklow court yesterday.
Séamus Doyle, Clonmore, Ballyoughter, Gorey, was also fined €350 on the charge of dangerous driving at Ballyraine, Arklow, on September 3rd last year.
Judge Donnachadh Ó Buachalla fixed bail in the defendant's own bond of €400 and one independent surety of €600.