Judge warns people in court to behave after fracas

A judge has threatened to close Galway Circuit Criminal Court to the public next week during the trial of a man charged with …

A judge has threatened to close Galway Circuit Criminal Court to the public next week during the trial of a man charged with manslaughter if the dead man's relatives do not behave.

Judge Raymond Groarke made his comments after violent scenes at the court as Thomas McDonagh (26), Lios na Run, Ballybane, Galway, was being formally charged with the unlawful killing of Joseph Sweeney, on March 27th at Rocklands Avenue, Ballybane, Galway.

The man's body was found in the back seat of a burned-out car last year.

Mr McDonagh was also charged with recklessly endangering Mr Sweeney's life by not ensuring he had left the vehicle before he set it alight.

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As Mr McDonagh replied "not guilty" to both charges, a young woman, grabbed him and started to scream abuse.

Two gardaí dragged the accused into the press area to get him away from the woman, while other gardaí restrained the woman.

The courtroom was packed at the time with solicitors, barristers, defendants in other cases and up to 60 members of the public who had been called for jury service.

There was mayhem as other people got involved in the fracas which spilled out into the hallway.

Gardaí quickly cleared the area and the young woman was escorted to a cell in the building before being taken to Galway Garda station.

Security in and around the courthouse was stepped up as extra gardaí were drafted in. Judge Groarke, who had risen momentarily while gardaí restored order, returned to the bench and asked the jury to come back next Tuesday when the trial would begin.

He informed the five men and seven women jurors that the trial would take up all of next week and that it was likely to run into the following week.

After the jury had left the courtroom, Judge Groarke told gardaí he wanted to speak to members of the Sweeney family and their friends, whom, he said, he knew had an interest in the case and had been present in court all morning in large numbers.

He asked gardaí to summon those he believed to be still in the precincts of the courthouse to come before him but no one returned.

Judge Groarke then said he would not tolerate any outburst or anger or violence in his court during the trial next week.

The judge said he expected people to behave themselves and allow the court to proceed with the criminal trial in the interests of justice.

"If that does not happen and I do not get the co-operation of all concerned, I will close the court," Judge Groarke warned.

He said he understood how tempers could become frayed in such a tragic case, but what he could not tolerate were outbursts of anger and threats of violence which would prohibit the court from carrying out its function in the interests of justice.

"I expect people will behave themselves and conduct themselves and allow this court to proceed with this criminal trial.

"If that does not happen, I will close the court," Judge Groarke said.