A round-up of today's court news stories in brief
Sex offender sought by UK police arrested
A high-risk sex offender who was being sought by British police was arrested in Cavan yesterday afternoon.
William John Paden, who was being sought by police in Lancashire for recall to prison after he left an agreed address in Blackpool last week was arrested at approximately 4pm in Ballyhaise, around 8km from the Border.
A spokesman confirmed that a 56-year-old had been arrested on suspicion of breaching his obligations under the Sexual Offenders Act. The man had failed to notify Irish authorities that he had entered the country, an offence under the Act, which could lead to charges being brought against him in this jurisdiction.
He was being detained at Cavan Garda station under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act last night and it is expected that he will come before the courts today.
Revenue calls for jailing of car dealer
The Revenue has urged the High Court to again jail a car dealer for contempt of court orders requiring him to co-operate fully with its execution of a €4.75 million judgment against him over unpaid taxes.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly warned John Kane yesterday he faces going to jail for “a long time” if he fails satisfactorily to answer a 31-page affidavit outlining what the Revenue’s counsel described as “a litany of non-co-operation, evasion and deception of the Revenue” by Mr Kane in disclosing his asset position.
Mr Kane, also known as Alex Kane, of Granard, Co Longford, was previously jailed for a week last December for contempt.
Claims by wedding guests settled
A groom, his best man and four guests at a wedding reception in a Co Kildare hotel where the ceiling of the reception room collapsed have settled their High Court actions over the incident.
Newly-weds Joanne Noone and her husband Michael and several others had brought cases after the roof collapsed at the Setanta House Hotel in Celbridge on September 26th 2003.
Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill this week awarded Ms Noone €42,350 in damages against Connotes Ltd, trading as Setanta House Hotel.
Yesterday Brendan Watchorn SC, for a further six claimants, told the judge their cases had been settled and could be struck out.
Brother of the groom, Desmond Noone, who was best man at the wedding, said he had just finished his speech when the alarm went off and he heard the sound of the roof “coming down”.
Tyrone man on murder charge
A CO TYRONE man appeared before the Special Criminal Court yesterday charged with murdering a man in Co Donegal two years ago.
Martin Kelly (36), of Barrack Street, Strabane, was charged with the murder of Andrew Burns (27) at Doneyloop, Castlefin, on February 12th, 2008. Mr Burns was found with gunshot wounds outside a church by teenagers attending a youth club.
Mr Kelly was charged before the non-jury court in March with unlawfully having a firearm with intent to endanger life in connection with the same incident.
The chief investigating officer in the case, Supt Kevin English, said yesterday the case involved “extensive analysis” of phone records and over 600 vehicle checks and 300 witness statements.
The court remanded Mr Kelly in custody to appear before it on July 20th.