A DISTRICT Court judge turned off the video-link system in a courthouse yesterday after an accused man, whose face was half covered with a bandana, appeared on screen and made an offensive sign with his middle finger.
Ger Dundon (23), from Hyde Road, appeared for a remand hearing before Limerick District Court from Limerick Prison via the new technology, which was first installed at the courthouse last summer.
Mr Dundon is in custody in relation to a violent disorder charge and was among eight people arrested by gardaí in Limerick last April as part of the same investigation. He is charged with committing violent disorder at Sarsfield Avenue, Garryowen, on February 17th.
When he appeared via the video link system at a packed court house yesterday Mr Dundon was wearing a blank bandana over his mouth and he stuck his middle finger up while shouting at the camera.
Judge Tom O’Donnell told Mr Dundon’s barrister, Shane O’Callaghan, that he was not going to tolerate a “performance like that” and described the accused man’s language as “unnecessary and uncalled for”.
Judge O’Donnell told Mr O’Callaghan to inform his client that he was able to mute the system and turn the screen off.
Before he switched off the video link Judge O’Donnell told Mr Dundon that he would be treated with respect if he showed respect to the court.
Mr O’Callaghan told the court that his client has been in custody in respect of the same matter for 86 days, and objected to the fact that the book of evidence in the case was not produced yesterday.
State solicitor Michael Murray said that the book was ready to be served and Judge O’Donnell remanded the case back until Friday for service of the documents.
Earlier Judge O’Donnell said that as there were eight defendants in the case and a very long list before yesterday’s court he was adjourning the matter until Friday when a return for trial date will be fixed.
Also appearing via video link yesterday were Christopher McCormack (27), of McNamara Terrace, Wolfe Tone Street, and his brother, David McCormack (25), from Crecora Avenue, Weston.