Judge’s barrister complaint

A District Court Judge has told a barrister he will be reporting him to the Bar Council after the latter called proceedings in a case at the court last Thursday, ‘ a farce.’

Judge Kevin Kilrane told barrister Alan Toal he was making an order to have the court’s audio downloaded with a view to filing a complaint to which Mr Toal said he woud be responding.

The clash came after the Judge told Mr Toal he would not allow him to call what he ruled would be hearsay evidence in a case of alleged no insurance.

Mr Toal had earlier sought the court to make an enquiry into an allegation that a Garda had rang an insurance broker and told him that his client was an armed robber and the insurance representative might not be safe coming to court to give evidence in the case.

Mr Toal said he did not have any insurance company representatives in court and Judge Kilrane said he wouldn’t allow him call hearsay evidence in the matter. At one point the Judge pointed out to Mr Toal that he had ruled on the matter three times to which Mr Toal replied that he wasn’t stupid and also spoke of his 26 years qualified as a barrister.

During the exchange Mr Toal pointed at one point at the court’s harp above where the Judge sits and made reference to justice. Before leaving Mr Toal said he would be taking the matter “elsewhere.” The Judge granted his request to also get a copy of the case’s audio recording.