This article is from page 8 of the 2006-01-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
DISTRICT Court Judge Joseph Mangan reminded a man sitting in the public gallery at Shannon District Court who was in charge, after he was repeatedly interrupted him during last Thursday’s court sitting.
Owen Rice, with an address in Newbridge, Co Down, was not before the court last Thursday on any charges, but was there to make an ex-partie application.
His case was listed at the top of the printed court diary on the day, but was not dealt with at the start of the court.
After he rose to his feet on a number of occasions throughout the day asking why he was still waiting for his application to be heard, Judge Mangan said, “You are not the boss here. Get that into your skull,” before telling him several times to sit down and conduct himself or he would be held in contempt.
“You are sailing close to the wind. You don’t run the court at all,” added Judge Mangan, who refused to allow Rice the chance to speak.
When asked by Rice later why his case was not called “as per the list” the judge said, “On a previous date I have explained to you what the policy of the court is on the calling of cases. I am not going to repeat myself.”
Later Rice made a number of submissions, including an application to have his case delisted until after a separate hearing in the Supreme Court. The case – where Rice is accused of obstructing a garda officer and dangerous driving at Ballycally, Newmarket-onFergus, on December 6, 2003 – was due to be heard later this week at Shannon District Court. Rice told the judge that according to legal advice he is under no obligation to attend court later this week and it was his intention not to attend.
Judge Mangan said he would not delist the case, but adjourned it until later in the year.