The Irish Abroad

• Pat McDonagh, the owner of the Supermac's chain of fast-food restaurants, has won his claim against Kevin Blair, president of the US-based Claddagh chain of restaurants, of which he is a major backer. The settlement of $2m in compensatory and punitive damages refers to a sum of $20m given to Claddagh which Mr McDonagh claims was a loan rather than an investment.
• The man who pushed John Curran (52) in front of a London Underground train in July pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. The Dungarvan, Co. Waterford man was returning from work and was standing on the crowded platform of Highbury and Islington station on the Victoria line when Mehmet Bala (20) pushed him in front of an incoming train. Doctors confirmed that Bala had been suffering from mental illness.