by Andrew Carey
FOR the second time in a week, a judge at one of the busiest circuit courts in the country has expressed concerns that a Garda was not made available to provide security for the public and officers of the court.
Less than a week after Judge Carroll Moran expressed concerns about the lack of court gardaí available to Limerick Circuit Court, he felt obliged to say that it “was a matter of some concern” that no court gardaí were available for duty.
The second instance of lack of security cover arose when Judge Moran expressed concern over the fact that a “member of the public was getting quite loud.”
Last week, Judge Moran was told that there was no Garda available to escort a jury for their lunch break during a criminal trial. Over an hour later, two gardaí were reassigned from mobile patrol to the courts service.
Limerick District Court is the third busiest court in the country and just four gardaí are assigned to the duty roster. This Tuesday, only three gardaí were available for duty as one Garda was off roster as he was injured while on duty. A replacement Garda had not been reassigned.
The Circuit Court in Limerick has been dealing with what gardaí describe as some of the most serious and dangerous criminals in the country.
However, as barristers, solicitors and court representatives were carrying on with the business of the day, a man in the public gallery was overheard talking loudly and joking among his friends.
On two occasions, Judge Moran looked for a court Garda to deal with the matter, but none was present. A district court appeal was at hearing, but the man subsequently left the courtroom.
Halting proceedings, Judge Moran said that it was a “matter of some concern that there is no court Garda present – it is of some concern”.
The comments prompted Judge Moran’s assistant John Clear to leave the court in search of an Garda, prompting barrister Emmett O’Brien, a member of the Fianna Fáil national executive to say “such are the cutbacks”.
Judge Moran replied, “no political speeches Mr O’Brien”.
A short time later however, the man was removed from the court.
