‘ATTACK ON JUSTICE’ | 

Dublin man who tried to film jury on phone during burglary trial is jailed

Wexford Circuit Court judge said what occurred was a ‘clear attack on the administration of justice’

Wexford People

Today at 08:28

A man facing a burglary charge was put away for three months in jail after he attempted to film the swearing in of the jury called to deal with his case.

The burglary trial – interrupted when an alert garda sergeant noticed defendant Trevor Mooney was pointing his phone at jurors – has been put back to a date in the new year.

But Judge Cormac Quinn was keen to deal without delay with the contempt of court prosecution arising from the taking of the unapproved video.

The accused, with an address in Dublin at Buttercup Park, Darndale, Coolock, was brought before Wexford Circuit Court by prison officers.

Defending the man who had 155 previous convictions from the past 39 years, barrister Brian Mulvany commented that his client leads a chaotic lifestyle and makes reckless decisions.

Counsel passed on what he called a ‘fulsome apology’ on Mooney’s behalf but this did not suffice to stave off the prison sentence.

Judge Quinn recalled how the defendant was spotted lifting up his phone as jury selection was under way on October 24. The court commended Garda Sergeant Mairead Brophy for noticing what was going on.

Also commended was Garda Geoffrey Scally who retrieved a 19 second video from the phone after it was seized.

What happened was a clear attack on the administration of justice, concluded Judge Quinn.

Mooney was sent away to commence his latest three month spell in prison.