May Day case adjourned - judges off sick
Two men arrested during May Day security operations had their cases adjourned today at Dublin District Court due to a shortage of judges.
UK nationals Giuseppe Girardi and student Neil Ketchley, 19, are both charged with trespass on a private residence at Leeson Street Lower, Dublin at 10.15pm on April 27 last.
Homeless worker Girardi, 38, is also charged with unlawful possession of implements which could be used for criminal damage under Section 4 of the Criminal Damage Act 1991 at the same address on the same date.
A court earlier heard that Girardi was in possession of cans of spray paint and stencils used for anti-globalisation graffiti.
The defendants, who both have UK addresses, deny the charges.
However, Judge Gerard Haughton said he had to adjourn the case because of a current shortage of judges available to the District Court.
Judge Haughton, who adjourned several other listed cases, said: “There are three or four judges off sick, and a judge who retired in August 2003 has not been replaced. We are very short-staffed at the moment.”
Earlier up to 15 supporters of the defendants staged a protest outside the gates of Dublin District Court on North Brunswick Street with a banner: “Don’t Criminalise Political Dissidents.”
The defendants were arrested during garda security monitoring just days before May 1 celebrations in Dublin’s Farmleigh House to mark the accession of 10 new states to the enlarged EU.
In court, counsel for Ketchley, Ms Anita Warren sought an adjournment for her client when it emerged the case could not be heard.
She said A-level student Ketchley, who was dressed in a blue suit, was due to start university in the UK tomorrow.
Judge Haughton then agreed to hear the case on January 10 during Ketchley’s Christmas holiday.
He also adjourned Mr Girardi’s hearing to November 10. The court heard that had complied with strict bail conditions since April.
He had to surrender his passport and sign on at Dublin’s Bridewell Garda Station three times a week.
The judge ordered the refund of independent sureties of €1,500 paid by each defendant and released them on their own bail to appear on their respective court dates.
