“You may well dislike me but I represent an institution in this State and I will not see that symbol offended by you or anyone else.”
Judge John Neilan pointed to the harp on the wall above his head as he remonstrated with two Polish nationals who had clapped as he entered the courthouse last Thursday morning.
He suggested that if they weren’t willing to respect the court they should “take themselves back to Poland”.
The judge said he had no personal security but had been allowed to go about his business “uninterrupted by Irish people” and he asked the men for a reason why they shouldn’t be sent to St Patrick’s Institution for contempt.
Both said they were sorry. They had just been talking and had not intended any offence to the judge.
He fined one of the men €150 for parking in a loading bay and failing to pay the fine. He had been moving house and simply forgot, he said.
He was one of a number of people whose case had not been reached on the last occasion and had been adjourned to this court.
“Take yourselves out of the building and don’t let me see you again,” he warned them.
