The Garda Representative Association has hired a well-known solicitor to represent two gardaí who face internal disciplinary proceedings by the force’s watchdog, even though they were cleared of any wrongdoing when they used pepper spray to subdue a violent teenager.

The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission has served disciplinary papers on one of the gardaí who were cleared in court of wrongdoing after they used pepper spray to subdue a violent youth.

They say crime doesn’t pay, but in this unique case it will help highlight the good work that many previously unsung young heroes do for their communities.

The Bible should be replaced with a civil oath and witnesses who commit perjury should be prosecuted, a former district judge has suggested.

WHAT is an acceptable sentence for the possession of child pornography?

The retired judge who caused outrage by punishing Tim Allen with community service for having child pornography has defended his ruling and said the controversy was fuelled by media misreporting.

The retired judge who caused outrage by punishing Tim Allen with community service for having child pornography has defended his ruling and said the controversy was fuelled by media misreporting.

Ombudsman for Children Emily Logan fears the upcoming referendum on children will not bring about radical changes to their rights because of political wariness about changing the Constitution.

THE overcrowding crisis in Irish prisons means more than 730 prisoners — 15% of the prison population — are out on temporary release on a daily basis.

PROPOSED judiciary pay cuts “don’t make economic sense” according to a Cork-based district court judge.

A retired district court judge has said that, while he will not object to proposals to cut the judiciary's pay, a referendum on the issue is "probably a populist move".

JUDGE Michael Pattwell is to retire from the bench at the end of next month after 21 years of service.

ONE of the country’s most outspoken district court judges has accused prison authorities of having no regard for the victims of crime when they let prisoners out on temporary release after just a few weeks behind bars.

FIVE Lithuanians, four of whom have only been in Ireland since Friday last, appeared before Mallow District Court yesterday charged with stealing goods valued at a total of €1,773.22 from 13 different pharmacies across Cork and Waterford on Valentine’s Day.

THE organisers of a Cork racing festival have decided to introduce a best dressed man competition after they were criticised — in a tongue and cheek fashion — by a judge for being sexist.

GARDAÍ will have to wait until next Tuesday for a court decision on their objection to the licensing of high-powered military police-style weapons.

CORK footballers, who have been training with Rylane Boxing Club for the past six weeks, will show off their new skills when they touch gloves in a celebrity charity boxing tournament at the Rochestown Park Hotel, Cork, on December 27.

VICTIMS of crime committed by people on temporary or early release from prison should consider suing the state for compensation, a judge has claimed.

A RETIRED Department of Defence engineer was bound to the peace for 12 months after a court heard he told a victim support worker he had hired thugs to harm his neighbours.

A DECISION is expected shortly from the DPP on a request by gardaí for a judicial review of a judge’s decision to hold a garda inspector in contempt.

A JUDGE yesterday described a former Department of Defence engineer as “a neighbour from hell” and denied his appeal against a garda refusal to grant him a firearms licence.

THOUSANDS of motorists have been wrongly fined and given penalty points for speeding, it emerged last night.

A judge has hit out at the way that people get notice of speeding fines imposed on them.

THE celebrated US painter Georgia O’Keeffe will be honoured in her ancestral Co Cork tomorrow evening.

The man accused of the murder of Sheola Keaney was today further remanded in custody.

AN engineering student was yesterday charged with the murder of his 11-year-old next door neighbour.

A 20-year-old student has been charged with the murder of 11-year-old Robert Holohan at Ballyedmond, Midleton Co Cork on January 4 last.

THE college student charged with the unlawful killing of County Cork schoolboy Robert Holohan was yesterday remanded in custody for a seventh time after appearing at Midleton District Court.

ALMOST 2,000 lines of inquiry have been followed into the death of Robert Holohan, 11, a court heard yesterday. Gardaí have received more time to prepare a book of evidence against a man charged with his manslaughter because of the enormity of the investigation.

GARDAÍ have been given more time to prepare a Book of Evidence in the case of an engineering student charged with the manslaughter of an 11-year-old boy, because they are still awaiting the full results of forensic tests.

Seán O’Riordan

A 20-YEAR-OLD engineering student charged with the manslaughter of schoolboy Robert Holohan has been remanded in custody to appear in court again on February 3.

A STUDENT appeared in court last night charged with the manslaughter of Midleton schoolboy Robert Holohan.

DISTRICT Court Judge Michael Pattwell yesterday said he did not apply one law to the rich and one to the poor in the case of defendants who appeared before him.

AS gardaí launch a murder inquiry into the appalling death of 11-year-old Robert Holohan, there is an urgent case for Ireland to introduce electronic tagging of sex offenders.

A DISTRICT COURT judge yesterday called for the electronic tagging of convicted paedophiles.

FIRST Holy Communions can be toasted with bubbly as a judge’s refusal to allow alcohol to be served where families celebrate their children’s special day was overturned yesterday.

The decision by District Judge Michael Pattwell to dismiss 80 cases of drink-driving undoubtedly resulted in as many happy defendants, but it also pointed to a serious defect in the legislation.

COUNTY council officials are investigating the origin of tonnes of refuse which was discovered hidden within forestry.

MONEY paid by Ballymaloe chef Tim Allen when he pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography is being used to buy a rescue house to assist children caught up in prostitution in India.

TIM ALLEN, husband of celebrity chef Darina Allen, walked free from a court yesterday after pleading guilty to possessing obnoxious images of naked children.

The chef husband of one of Ireland’s best-known TV cookery show presenters was today given a conditional nine-month suspended jail sentence for having at his home up to 1,000 computer images of children, some as young as five.

The chef husband of one of Ireland’s best-known TV cookery show presenters was today given a conditional nine-month suspended jail sentence for possessing up to 1,000 computer images of children, some as young as five.