A round-up of other Courts news in brief
Criminal justice system 'failing victims'
The third conviction of a sex offender starkly illustrates the "scandalous deficiencies" in the criminal justice system, it was claimed yesterday.
Alan Shatter, Fine Gael spokesman on children, said the repeat offender's guilty plea to raping a woman showed the justice system was "failing victims".
On Monday, David Power (26), Brittas, Thurles, Co Tipperary, was remanded in custody for sentence following the incident in Nenagh in January 2007.
Mr Shatter said that because the incident took place shortly after Power was released from prison, it raised questions about the legislative and rehabilitative systems for sex offenders.
Mr Shatter said the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Child Protection had recommended development of a comprehensive sex offenders treatment programme over two years ago, but the Government had failed to take any action.
He also criticised the Government for cancelling the only existing intensive sex offenders treatment programme in prisons last September.
"How many more women and children are required to be the victims of such barbaric and brutal attacks before the Government implements the two-year-old recommendations?"
Four Derry men on IRA charges
Four Derry men have pleaded not guilty at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin to IRA membership last March. They are Gary Donnelly (38), Kildrum Gardens; Michael Gallagher (28), Sackville Court; Martin O'Neill, Colmcille Court; and Patrick McDaid (39), Marlborough Street.
Their trial is not expected to finish before Christmas.