Extra-marital affairs criticised by judge

November 1982

The growing trend of extra-marital affairs has come under attack from DIstrict Justice Dermot Dunleavy.

His criticism came during the hearing of a case at Wexford District Court in which a defendant pleaded guilty to assaulting a man who was having an affair with his wife.

While the Justice criticised the defendant for having committed the assault, he also had words for people who are unfaithful to their spouses.

‘This type of conduct involving married people has become all too common in this country,’ he said.

In his opinion, people were being ‘brainwashed’ by certain elements of the media into imitating behaviour they were shown on television programmes and in some newspapers.

‘And such imitation is impairing the marriages of Ireland,’ Justice Dunleavy said.

A husband and wife are bound to each other under what he described as the most important contract – that made by God, he said.

‘To be unfaithful to one’s spouse is a breach of the most important contract in this country.’

Justice Dunleavy adjourned sentencing in the case to December 7 next. The defendant, [NAME WITHELD], has pleaded guilty to committing the offence on January 12 last.