D Friday, December 18, 2009 METRO 13 Teen fire caused 26,000 damage A TEENAGER who set fire to a house and minutes later smashed a patio door to get back in and try to quench the blaze has been given a two-and-a-half- year sentence. The 18-year-old Dubliner pleaded guilty to burglary and arson in June 2007. He had 33 previous convictions including robbery, theft and assault and he was 12 years old when he committed his first offence. Judge Katherine Delahunt imposed consecutive sentences totalling two-and- a-half years detention and suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions. The court heard how 26,445 worth of damage was caused to the house. A PREVIOUSLY unknown natural defence against swine flu and other viruses has been discovered which could lead to new treatments. The virus-fighting proteins were identified 25 years ago but their role has been a mystery until now. US scientists found that removing them from human cells allowed the H1N1 virus to run wild, but when their levels were artificially increased, replication of the virus was completely blocked. It comes as two people from the west of Ireland died from the disease, bringing deaths in Ireland to 22, although new cases continue to fall. Protein may help in swine flu fight Boy allergic to the sun A BOY who is allergic to the sun is forced to wear an astronaut-style helmet and protective clothing every time he goes outside. David Middletons skin blisters and burns after just a few minutes in direct sunlight and he has to apply factor 50 sun cream every two hours, even indoors. The ten-year- old, from Worcestershire, England, suffers from a rare condition where skin does not heal from the effects of UV light. He is so sensitive to light that the windows of his family home have been covered with a protective film. PaTience is a virTue A man has created a life-size stagecoach from 1.5million... toothpicks. 72-year-old American Terry Woodling, known as Mr Toothpick, spent an incredible 15 years creating the replica using the wooden sticks and glue, which was bought for 90,000 by the Ripleys Believe It Or Not! TV show sex convict did nothing wrong, girlfriend insistsBY ROSS McDONAGHTHE girlfriend of a convicted sex offender has de- fended the actions of a group of people who con- soled the attacker in court. Danny Foley, from Meen, Listowel, Co Kerry, was sentenced on Wednesday to seven years for the sex- ual assault of a young woman in Listowel, with two years suspended. Before Judge Donagh McDonaghs sentencing, at least 50 people went into the courtroom to shake hands with and hug the accused. When the then 22-year-old victim of the ordeal was found by garda beside a skip in a car park in June 2008 she had bruises all over her body, was semi-conscious and naked from the waist down. Foley, 35, admitted buying the woman drink that night, and claimed the sex act was consensual. Speaking on Newstalk, girlfriend Michelle OSullivan said he could hold his head high because he has done nothing wrong and has nothing to hide. She added: I certainly dont believe there was evi- dence to hand down the type of sentence that was handed down. Foley is appealing the verdict. One of the people who shook Foleys hand was Castlegregory parish priest Fr Sean Sheehy, who also gave him a character reference in court. Fr Sheehy defended his decision and said he would do the same again, despite attracting criticism, in- cluding from the bishop of Kerry, who yesterday distanced himself from the priests actions. Kerry Rape Crisis Centre counsellor Bernie Mc- Carthy, who accompanied the victim in the court- room, criticised what was viewed by some as a form of intimidation of the victim and she hit out at those whom she said have added to the victims pain. DV1 index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html