In Short

A round-up of today's other stories in brief.

A round-up of today's other stories in brief.

Evidence in PO murder trial concludes

The prosecution has closed its case in the trial of a Chinese national who killed a Kilkenny postmaster following a €13,000 raid on a post office.

Shu Shen, formerly of The Old Rectory, New Ross, Co Wexford, admits the manslaughter of Alan Cunniffe on December 8th, 2006 but he denies murder.

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Alex Owens SC said the Director of Public Prosecutions would not accept Shen's manslaughter plea.

Shen (25) has also pleaded guilty to stealing money over the value of €13,000 from the post office on John's Green in Kilkenny and having a firearm with intent to commit robbery.

Mr Owens closed the prosecution case yesterday, and Mr Justice Paul Carney told the jury of six men and six women they would hear closing speeches from defence counsel today.

Hotel worker had child pornography

A man will be sentenced later at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for downloading child pornography on to his computer.

Mario Steffan (27), a German national, who has previously lived in Duleek, Co Meath, and in Cavan town where he worked in a hotel, pleaded guilty to having the child porn on June 25th at his then address, Templeroan Grove, Knocklyon, Dublin.

Steffan was declared a sex offender and remanded in custody by Judge Katherine Delahunt.

Mother, daughter swallowed cocaine

A mother and daughter from Surinam who were living "in dire poverty" in the Netherlands have been jailed for four years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for having cocaine valued at over €106,000.

Marlene Smith (46), who passed 107 pellets of cocaine valued €72,211 after an X-ray at Beaumont Hospital showed their presence in her stomach and intestines, told gardaí she swallowed them on the promise of a ticket home to Surinam to search for her brother who had gone missing.

Mona Lisa Loe Afoe (26), her eldest daughter, said she concealed 55 pellets of cocaine, valued €35,000, in various parts of her body because a €500 loan she got from a criminal to pay her rent and electricity bills was called in early by him.

Both women pleaded guilty to having the cocaine for sale or supply at Dublin airport on August 27th, 2006.

'Love Ulster' rioter remanded

Another "Love Ulster" parade rioter has been remanded for sentence later by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Shane Day (19), a picture framer, Columbanus Place, Milltown, Dublin, pleaded guilty to being involved in violent disorder in the city centre on February 25th, 2006.