Who`d be a District Court Judge ?

AlekSmart · 07-10-2010 08:32AM #1

The Sligo Champion had this very apposite account of a Local Court`s deliberations recently.....

http://www.sligochampion.ie/premium/news/judge-tells-father-of-20-youre-a-total-disgrace-2359716.html

It`s subscription based so I`ll copy the entire for the benefit of those who might doubt the facts......

Judge tells father of 20: 'You're a total disgrace'
LARGE FAMILY NEEDS TO BE 'STRAIGHTENED OUT'

Wednesday September 29 2010

A FATHER of 20 children has been told by a District Court Judge that his home is a household of crime and that his family would be "straightened out" by being imprisoned until they learned to tow the line like everyone else.

Judge Kevin Kilraine called Tom Ward of 64 Joe McDonnell "a total disgrace" and asked him what kind of rearing he was giving his children.

" Your children are taking up a large portion of the court list in Sligo every single week. You are at fault for that. You are the father," said the Judge.

He asked Mr. Ward how many children he had and whether he exercised any control over them.

"Each and every one of them are in here on a regular basis. You appear to have no control over them. You and your children are here at every single court. Not one court passes but you are here, so much so that when I first arrived here I thought you were the caretaker of the courthouse," said Judge Kilraine.

He asked the defendant what kind of rearing was his children getting.

Ward denied that he was rearing his children to commit crime.

" Your house is a household of crime, a den of crime and it's going to stop. Mr. Ward you are an absolute disgrace" - Judge Kilraine.

He asked Mr. Ward how many of his children were on the dole and he replied that all of them were.

Mr. Ward said not all of his children lived at 64 Joe McDonnell Drive.

"But you allow them to use that address. It's a den of crime," said the Judge.

He warned Mr. Ward that his children were going to prison and that it would be his fault.

"Mr. Ward it's the end of the line for the nonsense that has been going on around here," he said.

Turning to Mr. Gerard McGovern, solicitor, who appears for members of the family on a regular basis, Judge Kilraine said that if would be listened to, to make this point to them.

" That family will be straightened out and the children will be sent to Oberstown or St. Patrick's Institution until they tow the line like everyone else," said Judge Kilraine.

We often accuse our Judiciary of being divorced from reality and aloof,but reading that I wonder if it`s the reverse...are they facing too much of what passes for reality in modern Ireland ?

d00gle74 · 07-10-2010 08:53AM

"We often accuse our Judiciary of being divorced from reality and aloof,but reading that I wonder if it`s the reverse...are they facing too much of what passes for reality in modern Ireland ? "

Well said.... but I think they often feel there is dam all they can do to reverse the situation. Problem families like these have snowballed big time ever before they meet the courts.

As I've heard said to me, "you need a licence for a dog but anyone can have children".

irishh_bob · 07-10-2010 09:30AM

d00gle74 wrote: »

"We often accuse our Judiciary of being divorced from reality and aloof,but reading that I wonder if it`s the reverse...are they facing too much of what passes for reality in modern Ireland ? "

Well said.... but I think they often feel there is dam all they can do to reverse the situation. Problem families like these have snowballed big time ever before they meet the courts.

As I've heard said to me, "you need a licence for a dog but anyone can have children".

when discussing tinkers and thier ability to reproduce , a fairer analogy might involve rabbits rather than dogs

Liam Byrne · 07-10-2010 08:27PM

AlekSmart wrote: »

A FATHER of 20 children.....

Firstly, it sounds like he's the creator of 20 children, and not a father.

Even the most decent parents can have one rotten apple, but if all of them act up then it has to be the parenting that's wrong.

Secondly, who in their right mind has 20 children ? Even Superman couldn't keep an eye on that many.

Thirdly, who's paying for those 20 children ? If there's any children's allowance involved the judge should order it withheld until the idiot gets his house in order.

AlekSmart · 07-10-2010 08:35PM

It looks,Liam Byrne,as if we....as in you and I,if we`re Social Contributors are paying the entire cost of maintaining this familial dynasty in Yeats country....

He asked Mr. Ward how many of his children were on the dole and he replied that all of them were.

That`s a very clear answer to the Judges direct question...so it`s now gone beyond the Childrens Allowance and into the world of the Big-Boys.

It`s also perhaps a valid question to pose as to who was paying for the services of Mr Gerard McGovern,Solicitor who so ably represented this gentleman....?

murphaph · 07-10-2010 08:52PM

What in ther name of God are we, the Irish people, paying through the nose in taxes for, only to have our money handed over to people like this? 20 people on the dole from the same family.

Where are the do-gooders now, the ones who maintain that only a minority of people on long term benefits are cheats?

johngalway · 07-10-2010 09:38PM

To answer the question in the title, for their wages? Where do I pick up my wig please

A Country Voice · 07-10-2010 09:50PM

johngalway wrote: »

To answer the question in the title, for their wages? Where do I pick up my wig please

All rise,
Court is now in session
The Honourable Justice Johngalway Presiding.........:D

Seriously though, it would be a great job, I'd love to send half the scum of the local court district to the big house, it'd be all maximum sentences with me!!!!

A Country Voice

Liam Byrne · 07-10-2010 10:44PM

murphaph wrote: »

20 people on the dole from the same family.

AT LEAST; I didn't pick up from the article whether or not the so-called "father" was contributing to society.

ballsymchugh · 07-10-2010 10:50PM

A Country Voice wrote: »

All rise,
Court is now in session
The Honourable Justice Johngalway Presiding.........:D

Seriously though, it would be a great job, I'd love to send half the scum of the local court district to the big house, it'd be all maximum sentences with me!!!!

A Country Voice

unfortunately, maximum sentences that aren't long enough!

Essexboy · 08-10-2010 04:57PM

And he was back in court later that day.

A COUPLE who were drunk and a danger to traffic was fined €50 each by Judge Kevin Kilraine at Ballymote District Court. The fines were imposed on Tom and Brigid Ward, 64 Joe McDonnell Drive for an offence committed on July 5th last at Ballinafad.
http://www.sligochampion.ie/premium/news/drunk-couple-a-danger-to-traffic-2359602.html

mikemac · 08-10-2010 08:21PM

johngalway wrote: »

To answer the question in the title, for their wages? Where do I pick up my wig please

If you take after Judge Mary Fahy in Galway, then I know you'll take no nonsense

Rants and tongue lashings for all who appear :eek:
Not to be messed with

flutered · 08-10-2010 08:38PM

the problem is all tinkers pikeys or whatever one wishes to call them, are automatically entitled to draw the dole the minute that they are entitled to it, no ifs no buts, no means test, they just collect it, the dole is only the thin end of the wedge, once they have that then the hse are at their mercy.

Dyr · 08-10-2010 08:43PM

Just because your name is Ward and you've 20 kids and your whole family are career criminals does'nt mean that you're a member of the travelling community. Assumptions people, assumptions:pac:

Essexboy · 08-10-2010 10:21PM

feelingstressed wrote: »

If you take after Judge Mary Fahy in Galway, then I know you'll take no nonsense

Rants and tongue lashings for all who appear :eek:
Not to be messed with

Unlike Judge Leo Malone!

billyboyle · 11-10-2010 08:58AM

I have one of these lazy bastards next door and he is a neighbour from hell

billyboyle · 11-10-2010 09:01AM

We live in a private estate where there are knackers.The anti social behaviour is so bad we have had to install CCTV to keep an eye on these lazy good for nothing pieces of ****!

bmaxi · 11-10-2010 11:14AM

billyboyle wrote: »

We live in a private estate where there are knackers.The anti social behaviour is so bad we have had to install CCTV to keep an eye on these lazy good for nothing pieces of ****!

Billyboyle you must not refer to our travelling brethren as knackers. Everybody knows they are a relic of our ancient Celtic past and should be treated with respect. Sure you'll get the odd couple of hundred that are involved in drugs or gun running or car cloning but that shouldn't reflect on the rest of them. Much better you should complain about that Polish carpenter fella who came over here on the sponge and would only work at three jobs to keep his family, he's probably drawing the dole now too. Now there's a real criminal for you.
The saddest part about this is, no matter how much the judge rants these guys will probably walk in the front door of St. Pat's and out the back.

Scofflaw · 11-10-2010 01:12PM

Not only has this thread failed to generate anything better than AH-style ramblings, it has also generated a fair bit worse. I don't care how justified people feel about flaunting an open prejudice against travellers, so a number of infractions have been given.

4 out of billyboyle's first five posts on boards.ie are complaints about "dirty travellers" and "knackers", so I somehow doubt billyboyle will ever make a useful contribution to this forum.

moderately,
Scofflaw

Who`d be a District Court Judge ?

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