A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Four-year term imposed for having guns and ammunition
A MAN was jailed for four years at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday for having guns and ammunition in south Dublin last year.
Stephen Verhoeven(23), Brookfield Terrace, Blackrock, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty in July to the unlawful possession of two ME .38 Compact G revolvers and 20 rounds of .38in ME ammunition at the Topaz garage, Tallaght bypass, Dublin, on January 4th, 2009.
Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns said that having regard to the gravity of the offences, the appropriate sentence was six years’ imprisonment. However the court suspended the final two years.
Suspended term for worker who staged robbery on employer
A Louth man who staged a robbery on his employers has been given a three-year suspended sentence. Thomas McDermott (27), of Rockmarshall, Jenkinstown, Dundalk, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the theft of €58,092 cash and €1,605 worth of cheques from his employer Woodie's DIY.
The court heard McDermott staged the raid on the Malahide Road branch in Coolock, Dublin, on June 17th, 2009, with another man he met in a nearby pub while out smoking. His co-accused has not been arraigned yet regarding the incident. Anne Rowland, defending, said her client staged the robbery because he was being blackmailed by a lady he had met in Thailand and who had videotaped them having sex.
Ms Rowland submitted to Judge Patrick McCartan that McDermott was to send this woman a minimum of €500 a month, which the woman claimed she was giving to her family.
Judge McCartan said he was somewhat relieved to hear the accused assisted gardaí in finding out who the co-accused was. He sentenced McDermott to three years in prison with the entirety suspended. "You've got your chance, now take it," the judge said.
Lotto winner still to come forward
The winner of last weekend's €16.4 million Lotto jackpot ticket did not come forward to the National Lottery offices yesterday. The ticket, sold in Dublin 4 last Friday, was a mixed-play, multi-draw costing €30. The winner has 90 days from yesterday to make a claim. National Lottery spokeswoman Paula McEvoy said the winner should now sign the back of the ticket and, if it is a syndicate, each person should sign it and put it in a safe place. The winning numbers were 15, 16, 22, 25, 31 and 32. The bonus number was 37.