METRO Thursday, November 5, 2009 D Googles first computer storage was a machine cobbled together from ten 4Gb hard drives housed in a case made out of Duplo bricks. did yOu knOw? BY ED CARTY Raids net 7,000 samurai swords A HUGE illegal supply network for lethal samurai swords has been smashed after garda seized 7,000 of the deadly weapons. The haul was recovered after garda acting on a warrant searched a business and several other premises in north inner city Dublin. Last night, detectives said they believe the raid has brought down an illegal supply net- work dealing in swords. A number of air-ri- fles were also taken in the operation. Two men in their 20s were detained after the weapons were recovered, but were re- leased without charge. A file on the discov- ery is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. The crackdown was part of Justice Minis- ter Dermot Aherns efforts to limit knife crime the sale and supply of the swords was outlawed on September 1 this year. MrAherns spokesman said the seizure of a vast amount of swords significantly reduced the threat such weapons pose to the public. Model Motivation Childrens homes not vetting staff A THIRD of childrens homes inspected by the countrys health service watchdog are not properly vetting staff, it emerged yesterday. A damning report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) found youngsters were being put at risk by a failure to check out workers. Of 38 centres investigated, three failed to get proper Garda clearance for staff and another 12 did not have enough references on file. The report examined foster care services in the Dublin south-west area and revealed over two-thirds of relative carers had not been properly vetted. Such a practice is unsafe, said Dr Marion Witton, Hiqas social services inspector. There are around 4,900 children in foster care and 5,500 in state care. The probe also revealed that just 40 per cent of relative foster carers had access to a social worker. A Naomi Campbell lookalike relaxes with Metro after her Dublin appearance for the launch of the all new Mazda3. The latest in a string of international celebrities turning heads on the streets of the capital, celebrity spotters are advised to be on the lookout for more over the next week Picture: Photocall MENU tHe Home Digest 4 Guilty Pleasures Celebrity gossip 6 World Digest 10 Letters 12 MetroLife Arts and entertainment 14-15 60 Second Interview Author Betty Cosgrave 16 TV 16-17 Classifieds 19-20 Sport 21-24 Help keep Dublin clean and tidy for everyone by taking your Metro with you and recycling it Cia is guilty of renditionAN ITALIAN judge has sentenced 23 Americans to up to eight years in prison for the abduction of a Muslim cleric, in a symbolic condemnation of CIA rendition flights used by the former US government. The Americans were all tried in absentia because the US State Department refused to extradite them. It expressed disappointment with the verdict, the first of its kind, but campaigners said the ruling set an important precedent. This sends a clear message to all governments that even in the fight against terrorism you cant forsake the basic rights of our democracies, said prosecutor Armando Spataro. Judge Oscar Magi handed down the convictions for the abduction of Egyptian-born cleric Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, also known as Abu Omar. He was snatched off a Milan street in 2003 and flown to Egypt for interrogation. The judge ruled that those convicted should pay 1million in damages to Nasr. Rendition: Abu Omar Addict who terrorised the elderly A DRUG addict who terrorised 13 pensioners in their homes, assaulting and falsely imprisoning some, is to be sentenced next month. Anthony Connors, 34, targeted victims living in accommodation for the elderly. He would call at their door and ask them a question before pushing past and ransacking their homes. Connors, from Darndale, was on early release from prison at the time and committed several of the offences while on bail. Sometimes he assaulted the victim and on other occasions he locked them in a room. Nearly all victims were over 70 years of age. Connors pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to ten counts of burglary, three counts of false imprisonment, two counts of robbery, one count of assault and one count of handling stolen property between November 2007 and March 2008. TODAY: A blustery and wet start, clearing later. Max: 11C TOMORROW: Overcast with thundery showers. Max: 12C LOTTO WEDNESDAYS DRAW 12 22 35 38 41 45 Bonus: 24 Plus 1: 11 17 21 23 27 42 Bonus: 15 Plus 2: 04 07 08 14 25 33 Bonus: 39 METRO weather index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html