A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Arkle saddle rides home for 15,000
Arkle's racing saddle has fetched £12,925 (€15,140) at a public auction in London, writes Michael Parsons.
The saddle, used by the late jockey Pat Taaffe for all his victories on Ireland’s most famous racehorse, was bought on Tuesday by an anonymous Irish bidder at a two-day sale of sporting memorabilia. It had a pre-sale estimate of £8,000-£12,000.
Auctioneer Graham Budd said the man, who did not wish to be named, was “a fanatical Arkle enthusiast”.
The vendor was an Englishwoman who had inherited the saddle from her father.
Gardaí investigate two robberies of cash-in-transit vans
Garda investigations are under way into two robberies in Dublin and Meath, during which armed gangs held up the cash-in-transit vans and escaped with cash.
The first incident occurred at about 10am yesterday when two men with firearms entered the post office on Main Street, Nobber, Co Meath, and demanded money from the crew of a cash-in-transit van who were delivering cash. They escaped with an undisclosed sum and left the scene in a small white van in the direction of Navan. The vehicle was subsequently found burned out at Whitewood Lake, Kilmainhamwood.
Gardaí believe the gang changed to a black car at this location, which may have been driven by a third accomplice.
In the second incident, a gang of at least three men, one armed with a crowbar, attacked the crew of a van on Glasnevin Avenue, Finglas, Dublin, just before 4pm. The gang demanded a cash box that was being carried into an ATM in a Spar shop. The raiders left the scene with the money.
Stowaways discovered in lorry
A group of 12 stowaways bound for the Republic were discovered hiding in the back of a lorry by British immigration officials last Saturday, it emerged yesterday.
The 10 Iraqi and two Afghan men were found among freight in the Irish-registered container at Calais, northern France, by the UK Border Agency.
The lorry and its load were allowed to continue but officials warned the driver, from Wales, and the Irish haulage company could each face a £2,000 (€2,300) fine if it was found he did not take adequate steps to secure the vehicle. The men were removed and handed over to the French authorities. – (PA)
Two held on McAnaspie death
Two men were being questioned by gardaí last night in relation to the death of Daniel McAnaspie.
The 17-year-old was in HSE care when his body was found in a drain in Rathfeigh, Co Meath earlier this year. Both men arrested yesterday had previously been questioned by gardaí in relation to the death.The men, who are in their 20s, were being detained at Blanchardstown and Finglas Garda stations under the Criminal Justice Act last night.
Four Gardaí sent for retrial
Four gardaí accused of beating a young man with batons after breaking into his flat have been sent forward for a retrial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Gardaí Seán O’Leary, Eoin Murtagh, Alan Conlon and Claire Delaney had pleaded not guilty at the previous trial to forcing entry to a Basin Street Upper premises, entering as trespassers and assaulting Owen Gaffney (21) causing him harm on February 17th, 2008.
Judge Katherine Delahunt set a date in June 2011 for the retrial after the previous case collapsed.
Man charged with fatal shooting
A man has been remanded in custody after he was charged with murdering a father of two who was shot dead in front of his partner and children in Dublin in August.
Daniel Gaynor (24) was shot in the neck and chest on St Helena’s Road, Finglas, on August 14th.
Keith Wilson (22), Cremona Road, Ballyfermot, was yesterday brought before a sitting of Blanchardstown District Court.
He will appear again at Cloverhill District Court on November 17th.
Garda settles action against GP
A Garda superintendent who is seriously ill with cancer has settled his High Court action against a GP over alleged negligence in his treatment.
Supt Martin Dorney (50), Waterfall, Co Cork, had sued Dr Patrick Lee, Link Road, Poulavone, Ballincollig, Co Cork, for alleged negligence and breach of duty arising from his treatment of the plaintiff in August 2003.
A father of three, Supt Dorney claimed that after a mole was removed from his leg in August in 2003, Dr Lee had failed to act on a report which recommended further excision of the area from which the mole was taken.
It was also claimed Dr Lee had then tried to cover his alleged failure to act. The claims were denied.
Following discussions between the parties, Mr Justice John Quirke was informed yesterday the case had been settled and could be struck out. No details of the settlement were revealed.