A roundup of today's other courts news in brief
Dementia of inmate unknown to nursing head
A nursing manager at a Dublin prison was not aware that an inmate who failed to look after his personal hygiene or to clean his cell had been definitively diagnosed with a dementia “complex”, an inquest heard.
Laurence Cummins (59), Mellowes Road, Finglas, died at the Mater hospital on January 13th, 2009, three days after he was brought there from Mountjoy Prison. A postmortem found Mr Cummins had died of a heart attack.
He had pneumonia in both lungs, due to HIV. His family has expressed concern at the care he received in prison.
Dublin City Coroner’s Court heard that Mr Cummins had a history of chronic disease management and was unco-operative with treatment, non-compliant with medication and refused to attend appointments. The inquest was adjourned in order to call more witnesses.
Two years’ jail for distributing steroids
A man who distributed up to €144,000 of prescription steroids bought on the black market has been jailed for two years by Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
His girlfriend had her sentence adjourned and Judge Delahunt indicated she would not go to prison if a probation report was positive.
She told Bernard Foy (38) and Anna Nawroka (27) the court “takes a very serious view of devastating effects the drugs can have on people”. She took into account Foy’s co-operation with gardaí and his “service to his country” in the Army before his honourable discharge, but said a custodial sentence was appropriate. Judge Delahunt told Nawroka that “a custodial sentence may not be appropriate”.
Det Sgt Brian Walsh said the “main player” in the plan had fled the country.
Trial over nurse’s road death begins
The trial of a Connemara man who is charged with dangerous driving which caused the death of a nurse near Spiddal two years ago began at Galway Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.
Ciarán Ó Laoi (21), Baile an tSagairt, Spiddal, denies a charge of dangerous driving at Minna, Inverin, at 10pm on July 19th, 2008, which caused the death of Mary Dillane(47), of Cartúr Caol, Inverin.
He also denies a second charge of dangerous driving a short time beforehand at Ballinahoun South.
Mrs Dillane’s car was hit broadside as she was exiting from a side road and turning right on to the main Galway to Spiddal Road. Mr Ó Laoi’s car hit her car on the driver’s side on the crest of a hill near Minna Church.
Fire officer was suspicious of blaze
A senior fire officer told the High Court yesterday he was suspicious about a blaze that destroyed a 19th century house in Co Leitrim almost eight years ago.
Michael O’Hara, station officer at Manorhamilton, was giving evidence for insurer Allianz in an action by computer engineer Josef Michovsky over the firm’s refusal to pay out on a policy on Glebe House, Dromahair.
Mr Michovsky claims he is at a loss of more than €900,000 due to the refusal.
The house was destroyed by fire on August 13th, 2002, the court heard. Allianz claims it was deliberately started by Mr Michovsky or someone else. Mr Michovsky denies he started the fire or got someone else to do it.
The company claims gardaí found accelerant and found no sign of a forced break-in. It pleads the policy was void.