A round-up of today's other courts news in brief
Former soldier jailed for abuse
A former Army officer and taxi driver who sexually abused his stepdaughter over a three-year period has been sentenced to six years in prison.
The 41-year-old man pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three charges of sexually assaulting the girl on dates between March 1st, 2000 and December 31st, 2003, when she was aged 10 to 14 years.
Garda Debra Greene told Caroline Biggs, prosecuting, the assaults always happened when her mother was not in the house. The man has since separated from his wife.
Judge Katherine Delahunt registered the man as a sex offender and suspended the last year of the sentence.
Afghan wins challenge to refugee refusal
A young man who was among a group of Afghan refugees who took part in a protest in Dublin's St Patrick's Cathedral three years ago has secured High Court permission to challenge a refusal to grant him refugee status.
The man, now 19, was among a group of young people placed in court wardship following a hunger-strike protest in the Cathedral in May 2006 by around 40 Afghans who claimed they had lost faith in the asylum process here.
The applicant applied for refugee status in January 2005. He claimed he was afraid that if he was returned to Afghanistan he would become a victim of child trafficking or might be jailed. His application was refused and he lodged an appeal with the Refugee Appeals Tribunal (RAT).
In her judgment yesterday, Ms Justice Mary Irvine ruled the man had established the necessary substantial grounds for a judicial review of the RAT's decision.
Cleaver assault charges dropped
A Chinese man accused of attacking an Irishman with a meat cleaver has had the charges against him dropped on day two of his trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Haidong Zhao (31), North Great Georges Street, Dublin 1, had pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to Paul Fitzsimons and to possession of a meat cleaver with intent to cause injury at Capel St, Dublin on April 9th, 2007.
Witnesses had told of how “a Chinese man” needed two hands to “yank the cleaver” from the victim’s head.
Judge Martin Nolan said the State had entered a
nolle prosequi.
Extradition sought over fatal stabbing
The French authorities are seeking an early hearing of their extradition request for an Irishman wanted in connection with the fatal stabbing of a man in the French port city of Calais almost seven-years ago.
London-born Michael Joseph O'Connor (46), with addresses in Waterford and Dublin, is wanted on charges in connection with the killing of Jean-Jacques Bertelort in Calais in early November 2002.
Remy Farrell, for the State, said it was hoped the request for Mr O'Connor could be heard before the end of the current legal term.