Disruptive and violent behaviour in court will no longer be tolerated, says High Court president

Ottoline Spearman

The High Court has said that "extremely disruptive" and "violent" behaviour will no longer be tolerated in courtrooms, amid a recent rise in such incidents.

In a notice issued on Thursday, the President of the High Court, Mr Justice David Barniville, said the growing number of disruptions was threatening the effective running of the courts, delaying cases and putting the safety of judges, court staff, lawyers and litigants at risk.

He said that the increase in such incidents mean that "it cannot be expected that the Court will exercise the type of tolerance for such behaviour as may have been exercised up to now."

He specified that such behaviour will be cracked down upon, and could result in criminal proceedings.

Setting out examples of such conduct, Mr Justice Barniville specified actual, attempted or threatened assaults of judges or other persons in court; physical resistance to members of An Garda Síochána who are carrying out a direction of the court; recording video or audio in court; and the use of abusive or threatening language towards a judge or others in court.

The different measures open to a judge when faced with such conduct include restricting a person from attending court in person; restricting a litigant from communicating with the court and court staff; and adjourning the case.

The measures are necessary to "protect the integrity of proceedings", he said, and to "ensure the proper administration of justice and the safety of all those involved".

"If public confidence in the administration of justice is to be maintained, it is paramount that the authority of the Court is respected."

A similar notice will also be issued by the Court of Appeal.