Andrew Carey
FOLLOWING last week’s disturbance during a sitting of Limerick District Court when a woman fell as a result of tripping over a broken seat, a member of An Garda Siochana was the latest victim of the seating in the court room after he too fell off his broken seat.
Although appearing uninjured, the Garda fell from the seat in the area adjacent to the Judge’s bench.
This is the latest incident surrounding the court room that has been the subject of criticism by Judge Eugene O’Kelly over its condition.
He has on a number of occasions blasted the seating area in the public gallery as being unsafe as well as the condition of the custody holding cells.
Criticism has also been levelled at the lack of resources to deal with the matters and Judge O’Kelly has also expressed frustration at the unavailability of the video link facility which has not been working for a number of weeks.
When the garda fell from the seat in the latest incident in the court room, Judge O’Kelly strongly suggested that he garda in question file a report to the Office of Public Works.
Three similar incidents are understood to be before the High Court in legal actions taken against the State by way of claim.
The OPW have been asked to inspect the building and its condition.
