D Tuesday, February 9, 2010 News Garda chief: Well shield witnesses... GARDA Commissioner Fachtna Murphy yesterday publicly backed the unprecedented decision to shield the former lover of wife killer Ea- monn Lillis from the media. Masseuse Jean Treacy was driven into an underground entrance of the Criminal Courts of Justice to give evidence in the trial, as more than two dozen photographers and camera crews waited at the front doors. Commissioner Murphy said a court witness should maintain the right to privacy despite having to give evi- dence in public, and said he would authorise similar protection again if it was needed, on a case-by-case basis. For some time, I have been asked about the difficulties of investigating and prosecuting murders and other se- rious crimes where fear prevents the community from offering information or evidence to garda, he said. In the main, this fear is born out of concern for physical or personal safety. It would be a grave development if individuals were also to be dissuaded from contacting garda with valuable information or evidence because of an anxiety or fear that their privacy would be the price exacted for their contribution, he said. A private citi- zen performs a public service and ful- fils a duty to the community when they give evidence in court. Lillis, 52, was jailed for six years and 11 months for the manslaughter of his wife Celine Cawley at their home in Howth, Co Dublin, in 2008. By Ed Carty Jailed for killing his wife: Eamonn Lillis Brangelina back on show Paddy joke proves costly for council A COUNCILLOR was ordered to pay compensation to a union rep after telling a racist joke about a man called Paddy. Cllr Ken Bamber, who sits on Medway Council in Kent, UK, told the joke during a break in a racial discrimination hearing into Irish-born Unison rep Brian Kelly. Mr Kelly confronted Cllr Bamber, saying he had used the word Paddy offensively and was racist in intent before complaining to council chiefs. The joke? A man walked into a Dublin bar and saw a friend sitting with an empty glass. Paddy can I buy you another, he asked, to which Paddy replied: Now what would I be wanting with another empty glass? Taxi driver gets 7 years jail for rape A TAXI driver who raped and sexually assaulted a female passenger two years ago has been jailed for seven years. John Ryan, 43, of Clonard, Westbury, Limerick, had pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault of the now 21-year-old woman in October 2007 after picking her up in his cab near a Limerick nightclub and driving her to an isolated area. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said it was fundamental that persons who hold public service vehicle licences should be completely trustworthy, as people, particularly young girls, are reliant on them to bring them safely home late at night. BRAD PITT and Angelina Jolie have hit back at split claims by suing the News of the World, which had reported the couple had visited divorce lawyers to divide their 235million assets and settle custody of their six children. The pair attended the Super Bowl together on Sunday. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html