Judges facing brutal assaults and threats

Data reveals shocking hazards of court environment

A NUMBER of judges and staff in Irish courts have been viciously assaulted, threatened and in one case been the victim of a hoax anthrax attack in recent years.

Data released to the Irish Daily Mail under a Freedom of Information request show there were eight incidents and accidents reported to the Courts Service’s health and safety co-ordinator in the estates management unit in four years.

Documents show that the unit received one complaint in 2013, two in 2015, two in 2016 and three so far this year.

The most chilling incident occurred in Clonmel Courthouse on January 26 this year when a staff member opened an envelope that contained an alarming note inside it, warning that a white powder substance in it was anthrax. The courts described the incident, saying: ‘An envelope was received and when it was opened by a staff member, there was a jury envelope contained within it with ‘Anthrax kills in 24 hours – have a nice day’ written on it. ‘It contained a white powder and once tested, it was deemed not to be anthrax.’

Earlier this month, a staff member in Portlaoise Courthouse was working at a special Sunday sitting of the District Court when she was brutally struck in the face, knocking her glasses off.

‘The accused was walking around the courtroom in an agitated state. Staff member was loading paper into the printer and she felt a blow to the left side of her which knocked her glasses off and she felt a stinging to her left cheek. The garda then restrained the accused,’ the courts said.

Last year, a female staff member in Cork was verbally abused and threatened by an agitated member of the public who was enquiring over the phone about ‘a refund of bail money which he was not eligible to receive’.

This person became ‘abusive’ and then threatened to ‘seek out the staff member and rob her’ in order to obtain the bail money.

In January last year, a man became aggravated in one of the Criminal Courts of Justice courtrooms and ‘jumped from the dock and attempted to throw a glass at a judge’ but he was subsequently stopped from doing so. In 2013, a member of the public became ‘unhappy’ that his mother had earlier sought an interim barring order against him, the same day he was up in the dock for a public order charge. He sat on a chair near the door in the meeting room and blocked the staff member from exiting the room. This incident was reported to Women’s Aid.

And, in 2015, a judge was brutally set upon at the Dolphin House Family Law Court. It is understood that during this incident, the female judge was reportedly kicked and punched in the face by the respondent.

A spokesperson for the Courts Service said: ‘The Courts Service, as an employer and a provider of court accommodation, takes very seriously the provision of a safe and secure working environment for its staff, judiciary, and indeed for all court users who use our facilities on a daily basis.’

Chilling hoax ‘anthrax’ letter