More court reports in brief.
Jail for men caught as they cut cocaine
Three men who were caught red-handed in a cocaine-cutting operation were yesterday jailed for a total of 12 years.
Belfast Crown Court heard that following a surveillance operation in the Cliftonpark Avenue area of north Belfast, drugs officers raided a flat and caught 41-year-old Edward Crane, Brian Cusack (30) and Joseph Kerr (25) in the throes of "bulking out" a quantity of cocaine.
Prosecuting lawyer Kate McKay told the court that police found cocaine at various stages of processing.
They also found a blender, electric scales and a custom-made compressing machine made out of a jack, all covered in white powder, as well as "cutting agents" used to "bulk out" the drugs.
The lawyer said that in total, there had been the potential to make 1kg of 10 per cent pure cocaine.
All three pleaded guilty to possessing the cocaine with intent to supply.
Crane, from the Point Road, Killough, was jailed for five years while Cusack, from Ardoyne Place, and Kerr, from Clifton Drive, both Belfast, were jailed for three-and-a-half years each.
Threat to 'slit throats' of gardaí
Gardaí who tried to bring a drunk and disorderly youth home before he got into more trouble were told they would have their throats slit.
Clifden District Court heard that gardaí were attacked by Thomas O'Malley (19) when they tried to bring him home.
O'Malley, from Bunowen in Clifden, was sentenced to 13 months' jail in relation to 14 charges.
Men acquitted over car damage
Two men have been acquitted by direction of the trial judge at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of criminal damage to a car in Ballymun after the alleged victim failed to identify who had been at the scene. James Van Boxtel (36) and Daniel Doyle (26), both of Silloge Road, Ballymun, had pleaded not guilty to trespass and to criminal damage of a car.