Outspoken judge jails man for talking
AN outspoken judge sent out a tough message in a midlands town yesterday as he jailed a man for seven days for talking in court.
Judge John Neilan warned the court that anybody appearing before him in Athlone District Court would be sent to prison to "learn some manners" if they interrupted proceedings.
"You are presenting problems in court, so you are going to Cloverhill for seven days," announced Judge Neilan to 34-year-old John Purtill who was brought to the front of the courtroom.
Gda Brian Boland noticed Mr Purtill of Thornbury Drive, Willow Park, Athlone, "murmuring" at the back of the court and told him to "keep it down". However, when Mr Purtill continued, Judge Neilan, asked Gda Boland to bring him forward.
"What are you in court for?" Judge Neilan asked the defendant, who shrugged. "Next time you come into court you will learn some manners," the judge said, before ordering Mr Purtill to Cloverhill Prison for a week.
It was the judge's second sitting in Athlone since the realignment of the courts this year, however, he's already made a lasting impression on his defendants.
His pronouncements from the bench over the past number of years have given him a name as one of the country's most colourful judges.
Yesterday, he revoked free legal aid for a 21-year-old Romanian woman, Terca Muntean, of Old Willow Park, Athlone, who appeared on a theft charge.
After Judge Neilan asked where Ms Muntean found the money to book flights to Romania when she couldn't afford legal representation, the defendant smiled.
"Does she think this is some kind of joke?" asked the judge.
"I am not going to see this position abused," he added, before remarking that there were old age pensioners struggling to survive in this country and he would not "waste taxpayers' money".
He warned Ms Muntean, "your bail is gone, you are in custody".
But the judge later remanded the woman on bail to appear before Athlone District Court on March 11.
- Eimear Ni Bhraonain
