A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Birth damages settlement adjourned
The High Court has reserved judgment on an action for damages by a woman who claims she underwent a "horrific" childbirth which left her son physically disabled.
Una Byron (45), a nurse, Upper Strand Street, Youghal, Cork, brought her case against obstetrician Vincent Fenton and the HSE alleging negligence in her treatment during the birth of her son John at the Erinville hospital in October 1998.
Liability has been admitted and it proceeded to assess damages only. The assessment hearing concluded yesterday and Ms Justice Maureen Clark reserved judgment.
Last week, the judge approved a €900,000 settlement in separate proceedings brought by Ms Byron on behalf of her son John, who has Erbs Palsy.
Liability was also admitted in that case by Dr Fenton and the HSE and an apology was made.
Cocaine hidden in roof of garden shed
A Dublin man who had cocaine worth some €3,000 hidden in the roof of his garden shed will be sentenced later at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Conor O'Sullivan, Ashlawn Park, Ballybrack, pleaded guilty to possession of the cocaine on May 19th, 2006, with intent to supply
Heroin stored in sitting room
A teenager who stored heroin valued €314,000 and cocaine in the family sitting room has been granted compassionate bail to spend Christmas with his widowed father. Christopher Walsh, whose other son died of a drug overdose aged 10, pleaded with Judge Frank O'Donnell to allow his only remaining child home for the first anniversary of his wife's death on December 22nd and Christmas with him.
James Walsh (18) was remanded in custody last month by Judge O'Donnell for sentence in February.
Shop wrongly accused teenager
A 16-year-old schoolgirl, who was wrongly accused of taking a bracelet and ring from a shop, has been awarded damages of €3,500 in the Circuit Civil Court for defamation of character.
Counsel for Rachel Meehan, Kilbarrack, Dublin, said a security woman at Claire's Accessories, the Ilac Centre, Dublin, had said: "You have an item in your bag" and asked her to step back into the shop where she was detained for about 30 minutes.
Dangerous driving ruling overturned
A motorist who was driving at 191 km/h on a dual carriageway has won his appeal against severity of sentence at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court in Bray.
BMW driver Séamus Doyle, Ballyoughter, Gorey, Co Wexford, had been fined €350 and disqualified from driving for four months when his case came before Arklow District Court.
Judge Michael O'Shea said yesterday he was satisfied that the defendant's driving fell short of dangerous and he allowed the appeal.
Jail threat for fraudulent claims
A man who claimed more than €30,000 in social welfare payments while he was working has been threatened with jail after Christmas if he does not pay back the money.
Raymond Scullion, Kilcornan, Co Limerick, a father of five, is charged with fraudulently claiming social welfare payments while in employment in October 2000.