objection | 

Judge orders gardaí to remove five people amid dramatic scenes at Kerry court

After gardaí asked for silence in court, Judge Waters asked for Mr Dejesus and the other individuals to be taken into custody

Tadhg Evans

© Kerryman

Today at 12:30

A defendant and four other individuals were removed from Kenmare District Court for a time on Friday on the orders of Judge David Waters.

The case against Rodolfo Dejesus (18 Lansdowne Village, Kenmare) – who is accused of driving without insurance at Railway Road, Dromneavane, Kenmare, on October 25 last – was called at Friday’s Court sitting.

At this point, an individual – who later acknowledged he was the defendant, Mr Dejesus – spoke up and said he was making a special appearance on behalf of Mr Dejesus.

Judge Waters asked where the defendant was, and Mr Dejesus said he was “right here, in my hand”, showing a document to the Court.

“The Garda has levelled a charge against the trust,” Mr Dejesus said.

Judge Waters asked the man if he had a solicitor with him in court, and Mr Dejesus responded by saying “I am the beneficiary of the account.” Judge Waters asked what that has to do with the case.

Judge Waters asked a man sitting next to Mr Dejesus to take off his blue hat, and Mr Dejesus responded by saying, “Why are you trying to distract from my case?”

A number of people sitting in the bench near Mr Dejesus began talking, and after Gardaí asked for silence in court, Judge Waters asked for Mr Dejesus and the other individuals to be taken into custody.

Mr Dejesus said “I’m not going anywhere. Are you going to remove me by force against my will? I do not consent to that,” before he was escorted from the Court.

Judge Waters said the individuals who were with Mr Dejesus and also removed from Court could not return unless they had specific business at that day’s Court sitting.Mr Dejesus appeared before the Court again later that day and objected to a Garda application to add ‘Moreno’ to his name on the charge sheet: “I object, I don’t have a last name.”

Gardaí claimed that Mr Dejesus does, sometimes, use the surname ‘Moreno’.

Judge Waters said he would adjourn the Garda application and the case itself for hearing to May 3.

Mr Dejesus said he did not consent to an adjournment as he wanted the matter dealt with at Friday’s sitting, but Judge Waters said he did not need Mr Dejesus’s consent.

He explained to Mr Dejesus that, unless he pleaded guilty, the matter would have to be put back to next month’s sitting.

Mr Dejesus indicated he would plead not guilty and would not hire a solicitor, instead defending himself.

Judge Waters made a disclosure order for prosecution evidence to be sent to Mr Dejesus’s given address before the May sitting.