Judge swears at defendant who ranted in court
A JUDGE gave a foulmouthed response when a racist defendant hurled abuse at her in court.
John Hennigan, 50, was involved in an argument with Judge Patricia Lynch QC at Chelmsford Crown Court on yesterday.
Hennigan was being sentenced for breaching an Asbo by using racist language towards a black woman and her two young children when he said she was a “bit of a c---”.
Judge Lynch replied: “You are a bit of a c--- yourself.” When Hennigan shouted back: “Go f--- yourself ”, the judge replied: “You too.”
He reportedly shouted “Sieg Heil” and banged the glass panel of the dock as he was jailed for 18 months.
Hennigan had an Asbo imposed in 2005 for a swastika found daubed on the front door of his council house.
Prosecutor Lynne Shirley told the court that Hennigan had given directions to Tanisha Ford, a black Caribbean woman, and her two children, aged eight and six and also black, in Harlow, but then told Ms Ford: “I don’t agree with interracial relationships. I like natural.” When asked to expand, Miss Shirley said, he added: “I prefer white children.” Ms Ford was upset and called the police. Hennigan was identified and made comments in custody which officers said were “very unpleasant”, the court heard.
Mitigating, Harry Warner urged the judge to spare Hennigan from custody. He said: “It’s not worked in the past and is unlikely to work in the future.” He could benefit from working with probation, he added. “He is a rather unfortunate man. He lives alone, is single and has been diagnosed and medicated for depression.”
But Judge Lynch told Hennigan: “This is the ninth time you have breached this order, the same offensive, racist comments, and you don’t deserve another chance.”
In response, he started speaking directly to the judge, after which she said she was sending him straight to prison. He then swore.