More news in brief
A Co Louth man has been found not guilty of stabbing a man in the neck with a shard of glass in Dundalk last year.
The jury at the Central Criminal Court took just over three-and-a-half hours to find Gregory Conway (36), no fixed abode, not guilty of murdering Liam "Limbo" Murphy, also known as Liam Maguire, in the deceased man's house in Woodview Terrace, Dundalk, Co Louth, on June 15th or June 16th last year.
During the trial the court heard that Mr Murphy was a lonely man who was apt to be taken advantage of by the various fellow alcoholics he invited into his house.
The jury was told the deceased died after an argument developed when Mr Murphy said he had no more money to buy alcohol after a lengthy drinking session. Mr Murphy bled to death from 21 stab wounds to the neck that severed his jugular vein and cut his carotid artery.
Two accused of attempting to kill
The trial has begun at the Central Criminal Court of two men accused of attempting to kill four people in Coolock, Dublin in February 2005. Michael Reilly (37) and Paul Gavin (33) both Glin Road Height, Belfast, deny attempting to murder Paul Collins, Kathleen McDonagh, Martin McDonagh and Patrick Quinn at Cara Close, Coolock on February 16th, 2005.
Niall Durnin, prosecuting, told the jury they would hear during the trial that the extended McDonagh family lived in several houses on Cara Close near Belcamp Lane, Coolock. On the night of the incident their attention was drawn to a vehicle parked outside. A group of 30 or 40 people gathered around the vehicle when, suddenly, a number of shots rang out. Several people where injured. The trial continues.
Businessman guilty of drugs charge
A 36-year-old Co Clare businessman yesterday pleaded guilty to the possession of drugs in Killaloe last year.
At Ennis Circuit Court yesterday Thomas Lennon, Killestry, Killaloe pleaded guilty to the possession of an assortment of drugs including cocaine, cannabis and ecstasy contrary to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1988 on July 14th last at Ross, Killaloe. Judge Seán Ó Donnabhain remanded the father of five on continuing bail to October 1st.
Lifeguard settles defamation action
A lifeguard, falsely described by her former employer as a poor timekeeper and inflexible, has settled a €38,000 defamation action in the Circuit Civil Court against Fingal and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Councils for an undisclosed sum.
Linda O'Dwyer, Richmond Road, Drumcondra, Dublin, had been employed as a lifeguard by Fingal County Council and had applied for the position of lifeguard with Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.
Man sentenced after guilty plea
A man serving a three-year sentence for reversing into a patrol car and throwing obstacles in its path has been given a consecutive two-year sentence for being a passenger in a stolen car four days later while on bail. Paul Beatty (20), Hawthorn Avenue, East Wall, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.