More court reports in brief.
Fugitive rapist fights British extradition
A man who absconded from a secure psychiatric hospital in England where he was detained after raping an 18-year-old woman is opposing a High Court bid by the British authorities to have him returned.
The 53-year-old man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is wanted by the British authorities arising from the rape in London in July 1993.
He was detained by gardaí in Dublin last March in connection with the rape of a woman here. The Irish- born man had been living in Britain for some time.
Opposing the man's extradition yesterday, Aileen Donnelly SC argued that to extradite the man would be unconstitutional and a breach of the European extradition legislation.
She said the hospital order, where a person can be detained indefinitely, was not a form of punishment and did not amount to a sentence. The purpose of this order was to treat a person with a mental illness, Ms Donnelly said.
The Irish authorities had not sought the extradition of John Gallagher, the Co Donegal man who absconded from the Central Mental Hospital where he was sent after being found guilty but insane of the 1988 murder of mother and daughter Ann and Annie Gillespie, shot dead in the grounds of Sligo General Hospital.
Robert Barron SC, for the State, said there were no reasons why the man should not be extradited back to Britain. He had been convicted in a court, a verdict which did not absolve the man of his responsibility.
Mr Justice Michael Peart reserved judgment.
Motorbike crash man gets €2.5m
A €2.5 million settlement was approved by the High Court yesterday in the case of a man who sustained severe head injuries in a crash that occurred when he was a pillion passenger on a motorcycle.
The proceedings were brought by Colm Hartin (26), Clonard Lawns, Sandyford, Dublin, against James Clarke, also of Clonard Lawns.
Mr Justice John Quirke yesterday approved the settlement on the recommendation of Hugh Mohan SC, representing the plaintiff. The judge was also told an application will be brought to have Mr Hartin made a ward of court.
Liability was conceded. Mr Mohan said his client was wearing a helmet at the time but it was not clasped.
Mr Hartin was an apprentice electrician at the time of the crash on October 20th, 2000.
He was a pillion passenger on Mr Clarke's motorcycle which collided with two motor vehicles, resulting in sustained severe personal injuries, loss and damage to Mr Hartin.
FBI agents to give evidence in trial
FBI agents are to travel from California next year to give evidence at the trial of a Galway city man, who, it will be alleged, made threats to President George Bush's life four years ago.
Declan Noel O'Shea (37), Emerson Avenue, Salthill, Galway, is charged with persistently using a phone for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety.
Conor Fahy, prosecuting, told the court in March that FBI agents from California would he coming to give evidence in relation to the case which involved bomb threats and nuisance phone calls to the US president.
Judge Raymond Groarke yesterday remanded Mr O'Shea on continuing bail to May 27th next.