A barrister representing Mr John Gilligan's daughter has alleged that press coverage of her application to have her lone parent's allowance reinstated is biased.
Mr Padraig Dwyer also told Dublin Circuit Court that civil contempt proceedings might be taken if the media did not desist from "intimidating or misrepresenting" Ms Tracy Gilligan.
Mr Dwyer also complained to Judge Elizabeth Dunne that a press photographer intimidated her yesterday. He said that as Ms Gilligan entered the court building, the photographer brushed against her and took a photograph of her as she stumbled.
It was the third day of the application by Ms Gilligan (25), of Willsbrook View, Lucan, to have her lone parent's allowance reinstated.
When the hearing began Mr Dwyer said that a garda had asked a photographer to leave the court building, and he asked for a direction or court order preventing photographers from "harassing" Ms Gilligan.
Judge Dunne said the alleged incident was an extremely serious matter, particularly if it happened within the precincts of the court.
Mr Dwyer said there had already been media bias before this incident. The Mirror newspaper had published a photograph of Ms Gilligan smiling as she left Monday's hearing. He said this gave a misleading impression as the court proceedings were not a happy experience for her.
Mr Dwyer said there had also been reporting bias against his client. He said sub-headings in an Irish Independent article on Tuesday had referred to Mr John Gilligan as a "crime boss" and alleged that the court had been told he was "bankrolling" his daughter. This had not been presented to the court.
The article had also stated that Ms Gilligan had withdrawn £20,000 from a bank account but did not say she had done so to pay for a property in Co Meath.
Mr Dwyer said a similar bias was shown in an article in the Examiner on the same day.
Judge Dunne said she was "extremely concerned" that Ms Gilligan may have been interfered with as she entered the court building. It was a matter of utmost concern if anyone was impeded from exercising the right to enter court.
She said that she was also very concerned to hear of possible misrepresentations of Ms Gilligan's case in newspapers.
Judge Dunne said that if there was a contempt of court by reporters, it was a civil contempt and the court could not deal with it unless by way of a motion by Ms Gilligan.
A criminal contempt might have occurred if a photograph of Ms Gilligan was taken within the precincts of the court.
Mr Dwyer said his client might be happy to leave matters as they were.
Judge Dunne said she was seriously concerned that photographs of Ms Gilligan taken within the court precincts might appear in the newspapers.
She adjourned further hearing of Ms Gilligan's application to February 11th next.