A round-up of today's other court reports in brief:
Christian Brother acquitted of assault on girl
A retired Christian Brother has been found not guilty by direction of Judge Frank O'Donnell at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of indecently assaulting a young girl some 40 years ago.
Judge O'Donnell said that although he had no doubt the complainant in the case suffered at the hands of someone, there was no evidence that it was the accused, whom he directed the jury to acquit following a four-day trial.
The judge said following submissions in the absence of the jury by Hugh Hartnett SC, defending, he could not allow the case to go before the jury. The 77-year-old man had denied five charges of indecent assault between January 1967 and July 1968.
Jury fails to reach rape trial verdict
A jury has failed to reach a verdict in the trial of a Galway man accused of raping a neighbour in the 1970s.
Mr Justice Peter Charleton was told that the jury was deadlocked after it had been deliberating for more than seven hours and had spent one night in a hotel. The 57-year-old accused had pleaded not guilty to two counts of raping the woman in 1972 and 1979, and to one count of indecently assaulting her in 1971.
The case will be mentioned next week at the Central Criminal Court when a new date for a trial might be set.
Negligent hip surgery damages
An elderly woman developed a fear of doctors following a negligent hip replacement operation during which, in an "extremely unique" occurrence, a drill bit perforated her pelvic cavity, the High Court heard yesterday.
Margaret Kiernan (89), Aughrim, Co Wicklow, had sued Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital, Finglas, Dublin, over the operation in April 2005. Liability was admitted and the case came before Mr Justice Michael Peart yesterday for assessment of damages only.
The judge was told later the action had been settled. No terms of settlement were disclosed.
Outlining the case, Bruce Antoniotti SC, for Ms Kiernan, said she was 85 when she had the operation. When the surgeon was drilling into the pelvic bone, the drill bit had extended into the pelvic cavity and struck and damaged the small bowel.
Drug dealer jailed for three years
A reformed drug addict has been jailed for three years for selling cocaine after Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court described him as "an active and willing participant in this heinous trade".
Paul Molloy (35), Fassaugh Avenue, Cabra, Dublin, admitted to gardaí that he had been selling cocaine for about 18 months after €10,890 worth of the drugs was found in the house.
Drugs courier jailed for 8 years
A drugs courier who was caught with more than €1 million worth of cannabis destined for the Cork and Limerick markets has been given an eight-year jail sentence.
The final four years of the sentence were suspended.
Neil Guilfoyle (29), Tullyglass Crescent, Shannon, Co Clare, pleaded guilty to possessing the drugs, worth more than €13,000, for sale or supply on the Glanmire bypass on March 22nd, 2006, contrary to section 15A of the Misuse of Drugs Act.