Jordan Davis murder trial
"Extremely dangerous individual" Wayne Cooney (31), who shot a man dead while he pushed his four-month-old son in a pram, has been jailed for life for murder.
Before the trial of drug dealer Cooney, who was this week convicted of the murder of 22-year-old Jordan Davis, his lawyers argued that CCTV evidence that was vital in securing his conviction should be excluded from the evidence.
During Cooney's sentencing hearing on Friday, Mr Justice Tony Hunt called for the higher courts to put an end to "spurious" legal arguments which he said are causing a "shocking waste of public money".
Weekend weather
Long-awaited weekend sunshine has arrived, with temperatures set to soar as high as 27 degrees Celsius by Monday according to Met Éireann.
In an updated forecast this morning, the national forecaster said temperatures on Friday could hit 25 degrees as the weekend gets off to a sunny start.
Temperatures will hold steady on Saturday and Sunday, with highs between 23 and 25 degrees, before Monday is expected to see the mercury hit a sizzling 27 degrees.
Shinzo Abe shooting
Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has died after being shot in the street as he delivered a campaign speech.
The attack, in western Japan, has stunned the nation, which has some of the world’s strictest gun control laws.
Mr Abe, 67, who was the country’s longest-serving leader when he resigned in 2020, collapsed bleeding and was airlifted to a nearby hospital in Nara, although he was not breathing and his heart had stopped.
He was later pronounced dead after receiving massive blood transfusions, officials said.
Soapbox case
A man who suffered a brain injury after he was knocked down by a soap box kart after a soapbox race in Roscrea has settled a High Court action for €1.55 million.
Retired Army private Donal Walsh, who had been a steward at the Roscrea Soapbox Race in the town six years ago, was walking back up the hill where the racing had taken place when a kart knocked him violently to the ground.
His counsel Patrick Treacy SC instructed by Cian O’Carroll Solicitors told the High Court the racing where modified karts, which are not motorised are released from a flatbed trailer down a hill had finished when it "was decided to have one more run".
Hutch case
Lawyers for Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, who is accused of the murder of Kinahan gang member David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016, have argued that their client will be discriminated against and receive unequal treatment if prevented from bringing an application before the Special Criminal Court to dismiss the charge against him.
Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC, for Mr Hutch, told the non-jury court, that it would be an "extraordinary situation" and an "absurd interpretation" of Section 4E of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1967 if the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) could deny his client "the obvious benefit" of bringing the application simply because he was charged in the Special Criminal Court and not the District Court.
Mr Hutch (59), who is in custody, was present in court for Friday's hearing, where he sported a full mane of grey hair and a thick grey beard. He wore a white open necked shirt and beige chinos.
