Driver accused of barrier snap

Jeffrey Carr (25), of Rutland Avenue in Crumlin, is alleged to have tried to lift the barrier, but when he couldn't lift it, it is alleged that he drove at it. He has denied the charge.

The alleged incident took place at The Square Shopping Centre in Tallaght on November 10 last year.

Defence solicitor Eddie O'Connor said Carr, who is currently unemployed, was pleading not guilty.

Singer killed in post-gig crash

A van carrying two US heavy metal bands crashed in Oregon, killing a vocalist and injuring two guitarists.

San Francisco-area bands Early Graves and The Funeral Pyre played a show in Oregon on Sunday and were heading to Nevada when the driver lost control after falling asleep.

Early Graves vocalist Makh Daniels (28) of California, died at the scene after being hurled from a rear cargo area. He was not wearing a seat belt, police said.

Blackmail porn emails probed

Investigators in the US state of Wisconsin are trying to track down a blackmailer behind emails containing images of child pornography, sent to state politicians.

Ed Wall, head of the state justice department's criminal investigations unit, warned all 132 politicians about the emails.

"The sender acknowledges that the intent of the note was to place child pornography on the recipient's computer as leverage to attain a desired legislative agenda," he wrote.

Cow burned in insurance scam

A former Los Angeles mortuary worker has been convicted of defrauding insurers by staging a fake funeral and attempting to cover it up by cremating a mannequin and cow parts.

The US attorney's office said 67-year-old Jean Crump will be sentenced on November 29. Prosecutors say she and three accomplices took out fake death certificates, staged a funeral, then charged insurance companies $750,000.