Judge Melanie Greally warns over contempt of court online

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Judge Melanie Greally warned about contempt of court and social media commentary at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 28 July 2017. She said existing contempt laws were inadequate to curb online comment that could interfere with an ongoing trial.

The hearing was held before the trial of six people charged with offences arising from a water charges protest in Jobstown, Tallaght. A number of defendants faced charges of violent disorder and falsely imprisoning Joan Burton and Karen O'Connell. The trial was scheduled to start on 3 October.

Judge Greally had proposed an extra bail condition preventing the six defendants from making social media comments intended to influence the trial outcome. Lawyers for some of the accused said the proposal was a misuse of power and would strike at freedom of expression.

After defence submissions, the judge decided the bail conditions did not need to change. She said commentary or campaigns calculated to influence a trial would breach the usual condition to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. She also warned others, including mainstream media, about commentary on the case and linking the forthcoming defendants with those involved in the previous trial.