A landlord who insisted that his bar-worker tenants were not "neighbours from hell" yesterday agreed to see what might be done to soundproof his "thin-walled" property so that the family living next door is not disturbed.
John A. Kelly, who rents out his former home at Portersgate Way, Clonsilla, Dublin, to six pub employees, may otherwise be required to evict them because their late-night lifestyle is causing problems for a neighbour, Treasa Gavin.
Ms Gavin, a mother of two, claimed that, since they moved into the house in March 2004, her family had suffered regular disturbances from the tenants.
Judge Anne Ryan said Mr Kelly could either evict the tenants or find some way of providing sound insulation.
She adjourned the case for six months for them to come to an accommodation over what soundproofing was required.
Bin-charge group claims 'victory'
A group campaigning against Dublin City Council's refuse tax has described a Circuit Court decision in favour of one its members as a "significant victory".
The group, which is challenging the legality of how the council charged for rubbish collection as it applied in 2001 and 2002, said that the scheme failed to have regard to the "polluter pays" principle and it welcomed the court's decision.
"This is a significant victory for the campaign which should see the cancellation of half the bin tax arrears and the possibility of a refund for those who did pay for the years in question," said Cllr Joan Collins of the Dublin City Bin Tax Campaign.
The judgment follows a similar decision late last year in the Circuit Court when the legality of the charges was contested.
In the Circuit Court yesterday, Paul O'Higgins, counsel for a bin charges defaulter, James Hegarty, of Rathdrum Road, Crumlin, Dublin, submitted that the charges imposed on his client were unlawful in that the scheme had failed to have regard to the "polluter pays" principle.
James Connolly, counsel for the local authority, had told the court that the council was seeking recovery of outstanding bin charges amounting to €241.26 from Mr Hegarty relating to periods of non-payments in 2001 and 2002.
Court reserves Gama judgment
The High Court has reserved judgment on a legal challenge by the construction firm Gama to the Minister for Enterprise and Employment's entitlement to investigate allegations against two Gama companies.
Gama is also opposing the publication of a report by the Labour Inspectorate of the Minister's department of its investigation into the claims that the company mistreated its Turkish employees while they were working here.
Manslaughter jail term reduced
A young man jailed for 12 years for the manslaughter of another at a house party in Limerick city has had his sentence reduced to eight years by the Court of Criminal Appeal.
The appeal held that the trial judge, when imposing sentence on Keith McMahon, had failed take into account McMahon's plea of guilty to manslaughter.