A round-up of today's other court stories in brief
Batu to retain president until case is heard
A High Court application by the general president of the building workers' union Batu for an injunction preventing his suspension has been adjourned.
The adjournment came on an undertaking by Batu's governing body not to suspend him before the case returns to court on November 24th.
Michael McNally (69), general president of the Building and Allied Trades Union for 14 years, had brought proceedings to prevent a special meeting of the union's national council from proposing a motion at a meeting in Dublin today to suspend him from his position or preventing him carrying out his duties.
Prisoner escaped to UK, court told
A handcuffed man jumped out of the vehicle transporting him to prison while it slowed at traffic lights, the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard yesterday. Judge Frank O'Donnell heard that the man then escaped to the UK.
John Francis Mongan (20) Foxwood, Finnswood, Lucan, pleaded guilty to escaping from custody on February 27th, 2007, at the junction of Kennelsfort Road and Palmerston Road.
Mongan's wife sobbed and was comforted by other family members as her husband entered the witness box. "I'm very, very sorry for what I done, your honour," he said. "The reason I did it at the time was that my wife was having difficulties with the pregnancy."
He explained that he had two baby daughters but he had been in custody for most of the life of one of them.
"One will be one next Wednesday. She's not even christened yet," he told Michael Maloney, defending. He said his wife was raising the children "on the dole" but he had been offered a job on the outside.
"If he had been less foolish, he'd be a free man now," said Judge O'Donnell. "Despite the fact you'd have to face no offence, you put everyone through this expense and trouble."
He imposed a two-year sentence, but suspended it from yesterday, so Mongan left court a free man.
"Don't come back before me," warned the judge.
Cousins charged with killing man
Two cousins have been charged with the manslaughter of a Dublin man who died after spending months in a coma following a violent assault.
Craig and Justin Kelly appeared in custody before Judge Miriam Malone yesterday
Craig (22), Dowland Road, Crumlin, and Justin (20), with Mercer House, Dublin, are charged with the manslaughter of Anthony Byrne (37) at Mercer House on January 18th, 2007.
They were remanded in custody.
People trafficking verdict upheld
The Court of Criminal Appeal has dismissed the appeal by a Nigerian lawyer against his conviction for trafficking illegal immigrants into Ireland.
Olaitan Ilori, a father of four, Oak Drive, Blessington, Co Wicklow, was convicted of organising or assisting the illegal entry in 2004 of 12 Mauritian nationals .
The group, including Ilori, travelled to Ireland via Paris and had paid substantial amounts to a company in Mauritius for entry visas and work permits.
The three-judge appeal court dismissed the appeal on all grounds. There was "overwhelming evidence" implicating Ilori in the scheme, the court found.