More news in brief
The relaunch of the famous Ierne Ballroom in Dublin was planned without any substantial modernisation of the premises, it was claimed before the High Court yesterday.
Remarking that there had been such a thing as the Stardust disaster, Mr Justice Thomas Smyth refused an application by James Cafferty and Ierne Entertainment Centre Ltd for orders requiring a range of works to be carried out at the Ierne Ballroom premises in Parnell Square, Dublin.
He also refused an application for an injunction requiring steps to be taken to ensure a renewal of the drinks licence for the premises, which was set to expire on June 24th last.
Mr Cafferty and the Ierne Entertainment Centre Limited had sought the orders against the owner of the premises, Mr Austin Kelly, a builder of Brompton Grove, Castleknock, Dublin, pending the outcome of a full court action.
Commenting that it was a serious case, Mr Justice Smyth said he didn't want to sensationalise the matter but wanted to remind those involved that there had been such a thing as the Stardust disaster.
The court would not condone or assist in any shape or form anything that might lead to any risk to the public, he said.
Mr Justice Smyth refused the injunctions sought and made directions to progress the action to a full hearing.
Man jailed for biting off ear
A 24-year-old Ennis man was jailed yesterday for three years for biting off a man's left ear during a row two years ago.
Sentencing Clinton Keane of Castlewood Park, Ennis, Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin described the attack on Garry Browne (23) on March 18th, 2005, as 'vicious, animalistic and unnecessary".
Judge Ó Donnabháin said: "It took time and effort to chew off a man's ear and society would be entitled to be outraged if I did not impose a jail sentence. Nothing excuses this type of behaviour."
Jury visits scene of shooting
A judge and jury yesterday visited the scene of a shooting incident in Coolock in north Dublin.
In the trial at the Central Criminal Court, a woman who received shotgun wounds to the face and head said she recognised her attackers as she had known them for 20 years.
Michael Reilly (37) and Paul Gavin (33), both with addresses at Glin Road Height, deny attempting to murder Paul Collins, Kathleen McDonagh, Martin McDonagh and Patrick Quinn at Cara Close, Coolock, on February 16th, 2005.
MEPs in call for Sellafield closure
Four Irish MEPs yesterday called on the Sellafield nuclear facility to be closed as part of a submission on the future of the nuclear industry in Britain.
The British government launched a consultation procedure on the future of the nuclear industry on May 23rd, and Fianna Fail MEPs Brian Crowley, Liam Aylward, Eoin Ryan and Seán Ó Neachtain made the first political submission in response to this yesterday.
The submission states that Sellafield poses an "unacceptable threat" to Ireland.