Fionnuala Walsh

Judge Ronan Munro decided to dismiss the charge against Cal Murphy at the District Court Appeals Court, but said that the prosecuting garda was to be “commended”.

Gerry Carrick (52) told the court that he wished to withdraw the appeal as he is currently serving a jail sentence for a separate matter.

Kristian Kearney (26) told the District Court Appeals Court that “nothing went in his favour” during the District Court hearing.

Judge Martin Nolan asked how the legislation could be any way effective if the way to avoid it was to “lock the door and not let any gardai in”.

Ahmed Abdirahman (33) is accused of murdering young mother Ms Ward on September 25, 2024, at her house on Melrose Street in south Belfast

Ahmed Abdirahman (33), with a last address at Kinlay House, Lord Edward Street, Dublin 2, is accused of murdering young mother Ms Ward on September 25, 2024, at her house on Melrose Street in south Belfast

A Somali national accused of murdering his former partner Mary Ward in Belfast nearly two years ago has been given a date for his Central Criminal Court trial.

The appeal court heard that Cornelius Kaiser (47) refused to give a sample to gardai after weaving in and out of traffic and officers were required to use handcuffs during his arrest.

The District Court Appeals Court heard that Marcel Nagit (36) was allegedly found to be 1.3 nanograms over the limit for metabolised cocaine in his blood.

A driver who collided head-on with another vehicle on his morning commute has had his conviction reduced to careless driving on appeal, with a judge finding that the collision “could not have been intended” and was a “momentary lapse of concentration”.