Ireland's Eye: What's going on in the old sod

UPC, the country’s third-largest Internet service provider, had said it was a "mere conduit" and could not be held liable for the actions of those using its services.

In his judgment, Charleton said, "I do not accept any of the evidence from UPC as to its unawareness of this process."

But he said, "I cannot grant the injunction because I have no legal power to do so."

Following the ruling, a spokesman for the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) said it had not ruled out a Supreme Court appeal, and the companies reserved the right to seek compensation from the state for past and continuing losses.

Director general of IRMA Dick Doyle said, "We will now look to the Irish government to fully vindicate the constitutional rights of copyright holders and we reserve the right to seek compensation for the past and continuing losses from the state."

One of the groups mentioned by the judge in his ruling, rock band Aslan, said they lost out on 30,000 album sales to online piracy. Billy McGuinness of the band said, "It’s a sad day."

Eircom, the country’s largest Internet service provider, agreed an out-of-court deal last year to tackle music piracy. It is understood 5,000 notifications have been sent out to Eircom customers every month since a pilot phase began last July.

A spokesman for Communications Minister Eamon Ryan said he would be seeking to resolve the issue alongside Enterprise Minister Batt O’Keeffe. "The minister will be inviting representatives from the music industry and internet service providers into his department to formulate an agreed approach,” he said.
-Irish Examiner

Racist abuse

A black Dublin bus driver told a judge that racist remarks from passengers were a "normal and daily experience" on the buses.

Olayinka Egbesakin told Dublin Bus solicitor Gerard O'Herlihy that one woman passenger had described him as "a monkey" after he had asked her if she had over-ridden her stop. He told the Circuit Civil Court he felt bad on the day it had happened and later, mistakenly, had asked another passenger, Maria Davis, if she had been on his bus earlier when the incident occurred.

He told Judge Jacqueline Linnane he immediately realized his mistake when Davis, of Cabra West, Dublin, told him she had not been on the bus. "I was mistaken and I immediately apologized but it is part of my job to keep a check on fares," he said.

He told the court the woman who had called him a monkey earlier that day had been wearing a dress similar in color to the outfit Davis was wearing.

Egbesakin told O'Herlihy he had not accused Davis or her friend, Caroline Laney, of anything.

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Nster.com