More news in brief
The US administration has appointed a new consul general for Northern Ireland, writes Gerry Moriarty
Susan Elliott, a career diplomat who recently completed a Washington assignment at the office of US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, has taken up her duties in Belfast, replacing Dean Pittman.
Prior to Washington, Ms Elliott also served in Greece, Russia and Peru.
Ms Elliott is married to Matthias Mitman, who is also a foreign service officer, and they have two adult sons.
Youth on shotgun charge
A teenager charged with having a shotgun in a pub car park has been remanded on bail by the Dublin Children's Court.
The 17-year-old has been charged under the Firearms Act with having a shotgun at the car park of Campion's Public House, in Coolock, Dublin, on July 4th last.
Judge John Lindsay heard that the youth's lawyers wanted to make submissions under the Childrens Act outlining grounds for retaining jurisdiction in the Children's Court rather than sending it forward to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Judge Lindsay remanded the north Dublin youth on continuing bail to appear again in November.
The teenager has been ordered to obey curfew to be in his home between the hours of 11pm and 7am daily. Two men have also been charged in connection with the same alleged incident.
Two teenagers remanded on bail
Two teenagers arrested for allegedly taking part in a violent gang robbery of a Chinese delivery man have been remanded on continuing bail to allow them to be psychologically assessed.
The 17-year-old youths have been charged at the Dublin Children's Court with robbery of the man, at Belcamp Avenue, in Coolock, in Dublin, on August 18th last year.
Garda James Neary of Santry Garda station had earlier told the court that the delivery man was attacked by a group of youths.