claw n order | 

Judge gets claws out after defendant is allowed to bring ‘support cat’ to court

He said it appeared the Courts Service had sanctioned this under conditions, including that the cat should be kept on a leash

Yesterday at 15:13

A JUDGE has voiced “concerns” after a defendant in a criminal case was allowed to bring a cat on a leash into a courtroom.

Judge John Hughes raised the issue after seeing the cat – a “support animal” for an accused man – in the public gallery at Dublin District Court.

The Courts Service has said it was a “once-off arrangement” at the Criminal Courts of Justice and apologised for failing to consult the judge.

The issue arose following a court sitting today, when Judge Hughes said there had been a defendant present earlier who had a cat on a leash and “that is a new departure in court.”

He said it appeared the Courts Service had sanctioned this under conditions, including that the cat should be kept on a leash and not brought to the building’s canteen. “There was no consultation with the court in relation to this,” the judge said.

The court was “not blind or deaf as to the reason” why the defendant concerned had made the application, Judge Hughes said.

“There are wider issues at play over and above the requirements of (the defendant) in this matter”, he said. “I would have presumed the court would have been consulted.

“I was not consulted, I didn’t sanction it, I’m concerned at this development,” the judge said.

He added that “to extrapolate”, it could “turn into a bizarre situation indeed.”

He asked those present if anyone else had been consulted. A barrister, who was not involved in the case, said she did not believe legal practitioners had been.

“I intend to make further enquiries as to what safeguards are put in place, not only for (the defendant) but for the cat which appeared to be distressed and keen not to be present, and also other users of the courtroom,” Judge Hughes said.

The Courts Service this afternoon confirmed that the cat had been allowed into the court.

“The Courts Service made a once off arrangement to allow a defendant bring a support cat to the CCJ today, if it was on a leash, and that the defendant leave after his case was heard,” a spokesperson said.

“This was only allowed as the CCJ is such a large building, and the time for the support animal’s presence was short. Our internal communications around this arrangement did not reach the judge in the court, for which we apologise.”