Prison authorities were severely criticised by a Dundalk Circuit Court judge yesterday after they were over an hour late bringing two defendants to court. The jury panel was sent home and the trials did not go ahead.
Judge Raymond Groarke, the court staff, legal representatives and some 100 people called for jury service were in court at 10 a.m. The court rose to wait for the two men and their prison escort but when they had not arrived by 11.15 a.m., the judge's patience ran out.
"Both men are in custody and their non-appearance is not their fault, but they were not brought here in time as the court had ordered them to be here by 10 a.m. They are not here and it is 11.15 a.m."
He thanked the jury panel for attending and said it would be invidious to keep it waiting.
When the pair arrived a short time later, Judge Groarke asked for the chief prison officer to go to the witness box. He asked the officer if he was aware the men were due in court for 10.a.m.
The officer said he was. The delay was due to under-staffing and the prisoners had refused to come down until they changed clothes.
Judge Groarke said he was grossly dissatisfied and it was a matter for the prison authorities. He told the prison officer to report back to his superiors.