More news in brief.
Cork graduate faces cocaine charges
A 27-year-old unemployed economics graduate has been remanded in custody with consent to bail after he was charged at the weekend in connection with a €1 million cocaine haul in Cork city last week.
Michael McSharry, of Ardkeale, Mount Oval, Rochestown, Cork was charged at a special sitting of Cork District Court with possession of cocaine, and possession of more than €13,000 of the drug for sale or supply at Coppinger View, Coppinger Court, Popes Quay on March 23rd.
Det Insp Tom Myers said the charges followed the seizure by gardaí of a quantity of cocaine, mixing agents, compressors and other apparatus used in the preparation of cocaine.
Passenger charged over flight incident
A 37-year-old Polish national who was travelling to Ireland to begin a new job, appeared at a special sitting of Ennis District Court on Saturday to face charges arising out of an alleged violent incident on board a flight to Shannon on Friday night.
Szczepan Drzewiecki, of Bartniki, Sportawa 27, was a passenger on a flight from Warsaw when he allegedly became drunk and abusive. He is accused of being intoxicated on board a flight; engaging in abusive, threatening or insulting behaviour and failing to cease such behaviour when requested to do so by a member of the crew.
The court heard that when charged, the accused replied: "I am sorry." It also heard he had been drinking vodka from a bag and assaulted a passenger beside him. Mr Drzewiecki was remanded in custody to Ennis District Court on Wednesday.
Naval vessel assists tanker
The Naval Service vessel LE Aoife was assisting a British-registered oil tanker last night after it developed engine problems off Wexford. The captain of the Breaksea had been forced to shut down engines and the ship was drifting in heavy seas when the LE Aoife intervened.
The tanker was being held in position pending the arrival of tugs from Cork and Waterford, which were expected to take it into port.
RTÉ to defend Leech libel claim
RTÉ has entered a defence to a libel claim made by Monica Leech, the former adviser to Minister for Transport Martin Cullen, but has taken no action yet in relation to a related claim from the Minister, writes Carol Coulter, Legal Affairs Correspondent.
The libel claims arise out of a phone-in to the Liveline radio show when a hoax caller, initially posing as a PD supporter, made lewd suggestions about the relationship between Mr Cullen and Ms Leech. He was immediately interrupted and RTÉ issued an on-air apology.
The remarks were made in the context of a controversy over the payment of €800 a day in consultancy fees to Ms Leech by the Department of the Environment, at a time when Mr Cullen was the Minister. Ms Leech was a political supporter of Mr Cullen's in Waterford.
Despite the rapid retraction and apology, letters alleging defamation were received from both Mr Cullen and Ms Leech by RTÉ. Ms Leech's grievances were outlined in detail. No such detail has been received from Mr Cullen, and it is not expected he will proceed with any action until after the next election.