TV cameras broadcast court for first time

COURT proceedings were broadcast live on television yesterday for the first time in the history of the State.

Two separate judgments were broadcast by RTÉ news in what Chief Justice Frank Clarke described as a ‘baby step’ that may lead to wider filming of the courts in the future. He said it would give the public the opportunity to understand as much as possible, what goes on in court and would help to demystify the process.

The first televised judgment was a unanimous decision from five Supreme Court judges, permitting the extradition to the US of a Co. Kildare businessman. Patrick Lee, 43, of Newtown, faces charges relating to mortgage fraud. He denies participating in a lucrative scheme to defraud a string of US banks and had taken a Supreme Court battle to stay in Ireland.

The father of two is accused of receiving about US$1million for his role. If found guilty, he could be jailed for up to 42 years.

The core issue in his appeal was whether the Extradition Act 1965 prevented his extradition. He argued that he was outside the US when some of the 51 offences alleged against him occurred and that he could and should be tried here for those offences. However, , the Chief Justice dismissed the appeal and the other four judges agreed.

The second judgment allowed, by a majority of four to one, an appeal by a man who suffered significant abuse at a nursing home in the 1960s after being misdiagnosed with an illness as a very young child.

He had been transferred there from another institution. The High Court found he should be compensated for what happened in the second institution. The Appeal Court ruled he should not be.

The court allowed the man’s appeal and directed the matter be returned to the Redress Board to assess compensation to include his treatment in the nursing home.