Hoodies ban slapped on boy

A 16-YEAR-OLD boy facing robbery and theft charges has been banned from wearing hoodies after a court heard he uses them like a balaclava.

The teenager appeared at the Children's Court charged with theft of a woman's handbag on Mary Street, in central Dublin, on April 19 last.

The teenager also faced a separate charge relating to a street robbery in Dublin city-centre, on April 23 last, but directions from the DPP were not available.

The boy was remanded on bail to appear next month.

Alligator finds his love match

Reggie the celebrity alligator is getting some female companionship at Los Angeles Zoo.

The reptile, who became famous after his owner dumped him in a lake several years ago, is now sharing a space with Cajun Kate.

Before arriving at the zoo, Reggie was illegally raised as a pet, then was dumped in a lake several years ago when he got too big.

He eluded trappers for two years before he was finally caught in 2007 and brought to the zoo. He escaped once.

Party-goer cleared of rape

A MAN has been acquitted at the Central Criminal Court of raping a woman after a party almost three years ago.

The man, who can not be named for legal reasons, had denied raping and sexually assaulting the woman in a house in Donegal on May 20, 2007.

The jury of nine men and three women returned the verdicts of not guilty on both counts after six hours and 48 minutes deliberation over two days.

The complainant was visibly upset at the verdict.

Prison riot pair get 900 years

Brazil gave hefty sentences to two inmates for their roles in one of the nation's deadliest prison riots.

A Rondonia state court statement said Michel Alves das Chagas and Anselmo Garcia de Almeida were sentenced to 486 and 445 years, respectively.

Alves was already serving 37 years for murder, armed robbery and assault while Almeida was serving 101 years for assault and weapons convictions.