Other home news in brief
400,000 more drivers have full licences
The number of drivers with a full licence has increased by almost 400,000 to more than 2.53 million in the five years to 2007, according to data from the Department of Transport, writes David Labanyi.
According to the Irish Bulletin of Vehicle and Driver Statistics, at the end of December last there were 427,724 holders of a provisional licence, accounting for 17 per cent of all drivers. In total there were 2,539,090 driving licences in issue.
The Department of Transport report also shows the most popular engine size for private Irish motorists was the 1.3 to 1.4 litre capacity sector and that 180,754 new and imported used cars were licensed last year, a rise of 4 per cent compared with the previous year.
This brought the privately-owned car fleet to 1,882,901. More than 87,500 used vehicles were imported last year.
More arrests over fatal stabbing
Gardaí investigating the murder of a man who was fatally stabbed with a sharpened iron bar have made two further arrests, writes Conor Lally.
One of those being questioned last night is aged 17 years, while the other suspect is 19.
David Rooney, Durrow Road, Crumlin, Dublin, was set upon by a group on Clonmacnoise Road, Crumlin, on the evening of Wednesday July 2nd and died 10 days later, on July 12th.
The teenagers being questioned last night were arrested in the Crumlin area yesterday morning.
Man in child porn case sentenced
An ex-Dublin City Council worker who was forced from his home after the appearance of a newspaper report on his arrest for child pornography possession has been given a suspended sentence.
Noel Gibson (57), a father of three, was arrested after gardaí received a tip-off from Austrian police about a computer server in Holland which recorded the details of people who downloaded files from a certain child pornography website.
His name has also been added to the sex offenders' register.
Gibson, of Pineview Avenue, Old Bawn, Tallaght, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing 423 images and 11 videos at his home on February 16th, 2007.
Man convicted of attempted rape
A 25-year-old Lithuanian national has been convicted of attempting to rape a Longford student on the shore of a Leitrim lake last year after she had consumed whiskey, cider and cannabis.
Tomas Urbonas, a father of one, of Landmark Court, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, was also found guilty by the jury at the Central Criminal Court of sexually assaulting the 23-year-old woman on the same occasion, April 8th, 2007.
Mr Justice Paul Butler remanded him in custody for sentence on October 28th next and directed that his name be added to the register of sexual offenders.
Judge claimed 82,000 expenses
One District Court judge last year claimed more than €82,000 in expenses, according to figures just released.
The Courts Service said it cannot identify the judge for security reasons.
The official records from the Courts Service indicate that the country's 145 judges were paid an average of €20,000 each in expenses.
Seventeen of those claimed nothing. However, one District Court judge claimed €82,240.65 - which included more than €25,000 in travel expenses and €56,000 in subsistence.
A Courts Service spokesman said almost all of the travel and subsistence expenses paid to judges are necessarily incurred by them in travelling to court venues.