Morning briefing
IRISH TIMES - Criminal courts disruption: Thousands of cases stalled nationwide as defence solicitors withdrew services over a planned “one flat fee” criminal legal aid model. The Department of Justice intends to introduce the new system next month; solicitors warn of further escalation. - Garda injured in Cork: A patrol car was rammed by a stolen vehicle on Monday afternoon. A female garda was treated in hospital for non-life-threatening injuries; the occupants fled on foot and two adult men were located in a follow-up search. - Waterford patricide charge: John Cashman jnr (45) was charged with the murder of his father, John Cashman snr (73), at the family farm in Cappagh in April. - Alleged gang director to SCC: Brian Grendon (48), of Clondalkin, will stand trial before the non-jury Special Criminal Court on 12 charges including directing a criminal organisation, drug importation/distribution and money laundering. - Michael Shine records ruling: A court refused to release transcripts from the convicted sex offender’s trials to the lawyer conducting a scoping exercise into how his case was handled. - Teen murder trial: A 16-year-old accused of killing Cork postman Barry Daly denied to gardaí that he left home the night of the assault and said he was not the person seen on nearby CCTV with a co-accused. - Workplace award: A Dublin school vice-principal linked to a Clonskeagh Mosque administrative power struggle was awarded €40,000 for constructive dismissal against the Al Maktoum Foundation CLG. - Leaving Cert Italian: Teachers said the higher-level paper was balanced but at times challenging; some students may have been tripped up by “ananas” (pineapple) being mistaken for bananas. - 1916 artifact call: FF TD Cathal Crowe urged the State to buy the Easter Rising “flag of truce” (a 40 sq cm white linen handkerchief) before it is auctioned, guide price €10,000–€15,000. - Newry tragedy: Six-year-old Kourtney Khloe McCormick died after being struck by a van on Sunday evening. A 40-year-old woman was arrested at the scene; PSNI appealed for information.