An appeal by a Co Clare woman against her conviction for soliciting a hit man to kill her partner and his two sons in 2006, opened at the Court of Criminal Appeal today.

A man “of good standing within the community” who sexually assaulted his young step-daughter over a three year period lost an appeal against the severity of his sentence today.

The Court of Criminal Appeal reserved judgement today on the outcome of an appeal, brought by a 50-year-old man against the severity of his 20-year sentence for the rape of two sisters and the indecent assault of another.

The sentence imposed on a young homeless man for stabbing a transvestite in the neck was not unduly lenient, the Court of Criminal Appeal held yesterday.

The Court of Criminal Appeal has imposed a six-month suspended sentence on a former garda who assaulted a young student while on duty, after it upheld a bid by the State to have the leniency of his punishment reviewed.

The Court of Criminal Appeal has reduced the sentence imposed on a pregnant Sligo woman for perverting the course of justice.

A VOCATIONAL Education Committee has brought a High Court challenge to a Department of Education and Science attempt to force one of its community colleges to enrol a problem pupil who was allegedly expelled by another secondary school.