Silent chef leaves court as he arrived

Tim Allen walked from the court as he arrived, sullen-faced and silent. Not surprisingly, after his counsel inside condemned the media for portraying him as a "demon/monster", he made no comment.

He must have known that it could have been much worse; the crime is punishable by up to 12 months in prison. Judge Michael Pattwell said, however, it would be wrong to "set an example" simply because it was the first of its kind to be tried in the district courts.

He accepted a submission by Mr Colm Allen SC that his client would "carry this scar to his grave" and that his punishment "will be unending".

At the outset, the relationship between judge and counsel was far from friendly. Judge Pattwell remonstrated with the Dublin-based SC for failing to wear his legal gown, as required.

The lawyer said he "did not plan any discourtesy" but he was "morally certain" the President of the District Court ruled that gowns did not have to be worn in "outlying courts".

"I am the president here," Judge Pattwell declared angrily, adding that he would be gravely insulted if counsel "waltzed" into the district court in a different manner to higher courts.

Eventually the judge relented after receiving an "unreserved" apology from Mr Allen.

Things didn't look much better for the defendant when his namesake submitted that the case be dealt with there and then rather than going to a higher court, as an agreement had been reached between the defendant and the State. "Horse-trading?" Judge Pattwell asked.

Mr Allen quickly denied any suggestion, but got his wish as the judge decided he had jurisdiction to take the case.

Judge Pattwell said he knew it would be criticised as someone might say money could buy one's way out of trouble but, he said, he dealt with people in an even-handed way whether they were rich or poor.