More court reports in brief.
Ruling later on life sentence challenge
The High Court has reserved judgment on a landmark legal challenge to the constitutionality of Ireland's mandatory life sentence regime. The challenge was brought by two men serving life sentences for murder.
Peter Whelan, Ashgrove, Underwood, Rochestown, Cork, is serving life in Cork Prison for the murder of Nicola Sweeney (20), a student, at her home at Underwood House, Rochestown in April 2002.
The second man is Paul Lynch (30) who is serving life in the Midlands Prison for the murder of Donegal pensioner William Campbell (77) at Mr Campbell's home in February 1995. Lynch pleaded guilty in February 1997. The hearing concluded yesterday and Ms Justice Mary Irvine reserved judgment.
Court rejects IRA convictions' appeal
The Court of Criminal Appeal has dismissed an appeal by two Dublin men against their convictions for IRA membership.
Adrian Kirwan (27), formerly Ballymun, Dublin, and now Ballymahon Road, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, was convicted at the non-jury Special Criminal Court last year of IRA membership in December 2004 and was jailed for four years.
Seán Connolly (27), Bluebell, Dublin, was convicted of the same charge and jailed for six years. Mr Justice Hugh Geoghegan said the court could find "no fault" with the convictions, and was quite satisfied with how the Special Criminal Court had considered the evidence.
Family of fatal fall victim get €275,000
The family of a Limerick man who died after he fell 14 feet as he was taking down steel girders bolted into a wall, have settled their action for damages for €275,000. The High Court yesterday approved the settlement in proceedings brought by the widow and family of Thomas Quaid, Fin, Kilmallock, who died on October 10th, 1998.
Breda Quaid had sued Charleville Credit Union, Co Cork and building contractor John Ronan, Ballyhea, Charleville, Co Cork as a result of the accident.
€100,000 for 'scutting' injury
A six-year-old boy who was injured while "scutting" on the back of a skip truck has settled his High Court action for damages for €100,000. Mr Justice John Quirke yesterday approved the settlement on behalf of Jonathan Flanagan, Old Tower Crescent, Clondalkin, Dublin.
The boy, through his mother Cliona Flanagan, had sued the driver of the skip truck, John Duffy, Greenfort Gardens, Clondalkin, and also sued National Waste Management Ltd, Cookstown Industrial Estate, Tallaght, Dublin as a result of the accident five years ago.
Musician gets three years for stabbing
A 32-year-old Nigerian musician has been jailed for three years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stabbing a man with a knife at the gym where he worked.
Thomas Ighama (also known as Antonio Solbroal), with an address on the North Circular Road, Dublin, was found guilty after a trial in June of assaulting Amir Sayid causing him harm and making a threat to kill him at David Lloyd's Gym, Riverview, Beechhill Road on May 31st, 2006.
Man gets 12 years jail for killing brother
A Cork man who stabbed his brother to death during a row at their home has told Mr Justice Barry White he will have to live with his actions for the rest of his life.
Patrick Lynch (26), Fairfield Square, Farranree, Cork, was sentenced to 12 years in jail with the final nine years suspended, to begin after a 10-month sentence Lynch was currently serving for burglary.
Lynch told Mr Justice White: "What am I supposed to say to my nephew when he asks about his father?" He was speaking at his sentencing for the manslaughter of Peter Lynch jnr (27) at Fairfield Square during the row early on August 3rd, 2006.
Mr Justice White told Lynch there were many mitigating factors in his favour, but he could not ignore the fact "that this is the second occasion that you have been responsible for the loss of a human life." But he said he did not want Lynch to "lose all hope".
Man sent for trial after Poles' deaths
A Co Limerick man, charged with dangerous driving causing the deaths of two Polish motorcycle enthusiasts on the main Kerry-Dublin road a year ago, has been sent forward for trial.
Thomas O'Regan (23) Garryduff, Newcastlewest, is charged with dangerous driving causing the deaths of Marek Olszowka (32) and Kazimierz Kawa (31) at Ballyduff, Knocknagoshel, on the N21 in Co Kerry, on June 25th 2006.
He is also charged with driving with excess alcohol, and without insurance, failing to produce a certificate of insurance and having bald front tyres on his car.
The father of two, a mechanic, appeared in court yesterday.
Judge James O'Connor remanded Mr O'Regan on continuing bail.
The Polish men had attended the first Harley Davidson Owners Group Rally to be held in Ireland and were accompanied by friends who were travelling in front of them in a car. They were on their way on separate bikes out of Castleisland on the main Kerry to Limerick road to catch a ferry to England.
Sentenced over child porn
A computer engineer, who downloaded images of child pornography while at work, received a suspended jail sentence at Limerick Circuit Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty.
Gardaí found 1,538 images of child pornography when they searched the former home of Anthony Mullane (45), Ormston House, Patrick Street, Limerick.