Articles tagged with: Judge Sean MacBride

By Peter Hughes “God bless you all, God keep you safe.” These were the final words spoken from the bench of Monaghan District Court on Monday by Judge Sean MacBride, and they followed a spontaneous burst of prolonged applause from all assembled in the courtroom as he dealt with his final case in that venue prior to his retirement on Sunday next. The proceedings had commenced before a packed courtroom around noon when representatives of all facets of legal activity paid eloquent tribute to the charismatic and sometimes controversial Donegal man who had ...

Serious concern about the previous use by a juvenile offender before Monaghan District Court of the drug “Clockwork Orange” was expressed by Judge Sean MacBride. “I hope you now realise what is important in life,” Judge MacBride told the young male, who was the subject of a Probation Report that showed he was making progress in coping with his drug problems. “Your health and mental well-being are so important – don’t mess it up with drugs which only cause pain, suffering, heartache and hardship.” The Judge remanded the juvenile to appear before him ...

THE inclination of some people to over indulge in alcohol during the annual Christmas holiday period was denounced by Judge Sean MacBride at Monaghan District Court last week, where he reflected that, for many individuals, the festivities were “far removed” from celebrating the birth of Christ. The judge was speaking while adjourning until January the sentencing of a defendant who had pleaded guilty to a series of drink-related charges, in order to “test the resolve” of the person in question and see if they could remain sober over the “so-called” ...

A “last warning” emanated from the bench of Monaghan District Court this week to people coming before the court accused of Road Traffic Act offences. Defendants were reminded that they must by law have their driving licences with them in court – and that they could face the loss of their licences if they didn’t comply with the requirement. Reinforcing a request to those present at Monday’s sittings made by the court registrar, Judge Sean MacBride said it was a criminal offence for any defendant in a road ...

WOMEN who refuse to give evidence in domestic assault cases were sharply criticised by Judge Sean MacBride at Monaghan District Court on Monday, who said he was “sick to the teeth” of the waste of garda time and the court’s time in dealing with charges that were then being withdrawn. Commenting during a number of such cases that came before the court, the judge advised that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) be asked to consider prosecuting such complainants for wasting garda resources. He told Inspector Pat McMorrow that ...

The local District Court judge has once again sharply criticised the design and size of the judge’s bench in his courtroom at the courthouse in Monaghan town — and has warned that he will object to continue sitting in the court unless something is done about what he called a “health and safety issue”. Stating that he felt like a “rugby scrum half”, Judge Sean MacBride said his bench was far too wide. The Courts Service would have to be approached on this matter, he said, as there were ...

A DISTRICT COURT judge has warned what he described as the “Dublin media” that he will “sue the pants off them” if they publish any more “snide remarks” about him. Speaking during a bail application at Clones District Court on Friday, Judge Sean MacBride said he was the “best qualified judge in the country” when he was appointed, and had been the only district judge in Ireland with an LLM (Master of Laws) degree at the time. Referring to “snide remarks that were made about me by certain ...

A 33-year-old man from the Clones area who was arrested on Saturday when gardai seized herbal cannabis with a street value of €500,000 was still in custody as we went to print yesterday (Wednesday) evening. The man was arrested at Lismeenan, Castleshane at 5pm on Saturday when gardai stopped and searched a truck in what was part of a planned ongoing operation into the sale and supply of drugs in Co Monaghan. At Monday’s sitting of Monaghan District Court, judge Sean MacBride extended the man’s detention period at ...

A District Court judge has warned the banks that he will not be granting them “large instalment orders” in cases where it is obvious that debtors cannot afford the repayments being sought. Judge Sean MacBride made his comments at Monaghan District Court on Monday while dealing with a significant number of civil and enforcement summonses. Almost 40 such cases were on the list, in many instances reflecting the impact of the recession and the resultant financial difficulties in which individuals and companies are finding themselves. While dealing with ...

A 29-years old South Monaghan man who was the driver of a car involved in an horrific three-vehicle crash on the N2 Dublin/Derry road outside Carrickmacross last month, which led to four fatalities, including an unborn baby, appeared in court on Tuesday night last, charged with dangerous driving causing death, and driving while having excess alcohol. Kevin McArdle, of Longfield, Carrickmacross, who was the driver of a silver BMW involved in the horror crash on the Carrickmacross Bypass at Monaltybane, Carrickmacross, ...