Judge: French family statement 'offensive and inappropriate'
A judge has said the victim impact statement of the family of killed mother of two Rebecca French was "offensive and inappropriate".
Concerned that it may appear he was influenced by the report, Mr Justice Barry White has adjourned sentencing four men who admitted disposing of the 30-year-old's body which was found in the boot of a blazing car in Wexford in October 2009.
The four are Lithuanians Ricardas Dilys and Ruslanas Mineikas with an address at Goodtide Harbour, Patrick O’Connor of Ard na Dara, Clonard and Polish man Piotr Pasiak of Lower John Street.
Rebecca French’s family said in an emotive victim impact statement that those behind her death were "animals".
It continued: "People with criminal records in their own country should never be allowed to live among us."
Mr Justice Barry White was due to hand down sentences to the four men guilty of impeding her murder investigation this morning but held back because of the report which was read out in court yesterday.
He said there might be a perception that he had been influenced by the comments of the French family some of which he branded as xenophobic, and added that justice must be seen to be done.
He has put the case back until next month for the DPP to give an opinion on the victim impact report and whether Mr White should stand down as judge in the case.
