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LAST UPDATE | 3 Feb 2022
THE CHARGES AGAINST all defendants in the ‘Golfgate’ trial have been dismissed by Judge Mary Fahy in Galway District Court.
The decision was handed down by the judge this afternoon following the completion of the State’s evidence. Defence counsel for each of the four defendants did not call any witnesses in response but argued that the charges were not proven.
Independent TD Noel Grealish (55), former Fianna Fail senator Donie Cassidy (76), John Sweeney (61), owner of the Station House Hotel in Clifden, and his son James (32), the general manager of the hotel all faced charges in relation to Oireachtas Golf Society in August 2020.
The State alleged that the four men were organisers of the event and that the event contravened laws enacted to minimise or slow the spread of Covid-19.
The State had argued that the men “did not take all reasonable steps” to ensure that the number of persons at the event did not exceed 50 persons.
It was acknowledged by all sides that there were 80 people having dinner as part of the event but the defendants argued that the diners were split by a partition was that was “soundproofed” and “clearly defined two areas”.
Delivering her verdict this afternoon, the judge said that the defendants complied with the regulations “not in the court of public opinion but in the court of law”.
The judge said that the event took place “in two distinct areas in a very large hotel”.
The judge said the court heard evidence that was “most impressive” from Mr Justice Seánus Woulfe as former Oireachtas captain of the guard John Flaherty.
“They are all responsible people who would not have gone to a dinner if they did not feel comfortable ,” the judge said.
So I have no doubt that the organisers, in conjunction with the proprietors did everything they could to comply and in my view they did comply, not in the court of public opinion but in the court of law.Unfortunately, as a result of this dinner very good people lost very good positions and contracts. But I want to make it clear that I didn’t make my decision based on that.
“So I’m dismissing the charges against all four defendants,” the judge concluded.
Michael McDowell SC for Grealish had argued that his client did not organise the President’s Dinner at the centre of the case and had “no case to answer”.
McDowell said that Grealish, as Captain of the Society, was “responsible for some aspects of the first day” of the two-day event but that there was “no dinner” on day one.
The judge agreed with this assessment, saying that there was no direct evidence that he was one of the organisers.
McDowell also said that the court was dealing with “a very serious matter” telling the judge that “you saw one person’s career was destroyed by this”, a reference to Dara Calleary TD who gave evidence today.
Dara Calleary
Giving evidence at the trial earlier today, former minister Calleary said that he was “very comfortable” during his time at the event that Covid-19 regulations were being adhered to.
TD for Mayo Calleary, who is not on trial, resigned as agriculture minister after his attendance at the August 2020 Oireachtas Golf Society dinner was revealed.
Speaking today at the trial of the two politicians and two hoteliers, Calleary said he was asked to speak at the dinner which was being held held to honour the late Mark Killilea.
Calleary said that he was not involved in the golf element of the event, telling the court that he is not a golfer.
“I don’t play golf, I’m not a member of the society,” he said.
Calleary said that he was “honoured” to ask to speak at the event honouring Killilea, a former Fianna Fáil politician.
“I attended on the basis that all regulations in place would be be adhered to and I was fully confident that they were,” he says.
We arrived into the hotel at six o’clock and from when we arrived at the hotel to the following morning when we left it was very clear that every precaution has been taken in relation to Covid-19 guidelines.
The trial had heard repeated details of a partition wall that was in place to separate groups of diners.
Answering questions from Eoghan Cole BL for the State, Calleary said that there were “45 or 46″ people in the room and that he wasn’t aware of other people “from where I was sitting”.
He told the court that when he stood up to speak he noticed the partition wall and could see people through the gap in it.
“I became aware of other people in the room because there was a very large partition in the room, floor to ceiling, you had no visibility of any other space in the hotel except when I stood up to speak,” he said.
I spoke from a rostrum I could see people within that space but I couldn’t see who was in it, so I couldn’t identify anybody in it.
Calleary said there was a gap in the partition “about my width” that he could see through when he was speaking but not when he was sitting down.
Asked about the Covid-19 laws and guidelines in place at the time, Colm Smyth SC for Cassidy said that “as a member of government” he had to be conformable rules were being followed.
Calleary replied that “first of all as a citizen” he had to be comfortable and that he was.
He added: “I was very comfortable during my time at the venue that they were being adhered to.”
“I was struck by the amount of what became known as bubbles that were there, people who had spent the previous two days playing golf in each others’ company.”
Obviously one was conscious of Covid at the time but we were very conscious that within the room we were in that everything was very, very much compliant.
Edward Walsh SC for John Sweeney asked Calleary about the guidelines for the hospitality industry at the time, putting it to him that the guidelines were issued “under the authority and seal of government”.
Calleary responded that the guideline wissued “with the regulations” and were published “under the imprimatur of Fáilte Ireland, a state organisation, and in conjunction with Department of Tourism”
is set to hear witness evidence from former government minister Dara Calleary.
Other evidence
The trial began at the beginning of January and ran for two days before a four-week break. It returned today before Judge Mary Fahy.
Defence counsels have argued that the defendants were following Fáilte Ireland guidelines that were agreed between the government and the representative body.
Supreme Court Judge Seámus Woulfe, who was present at the event, gave evidence at the trial that it was “significant” that the guidelines were published with the logo of the Irish government.
At the beginning of this morning’s proceedings, Cole said that the prosecution was not relying upon the guidelines as part of its evidence but that it “accepts the guidelines as a defence exhibit”.
Both Smyth and Walsh argued that the guidelines should be prosecution evidence.
Smyth said that they should have been gathered by the prosecution “in the normal way”.
“There is no basis, the prosecution have distanced themselves from these guidelines from the very beginning,” he said.
Walsh said it was “outrageous” that the prosecution was “ignoring” the guidelines for what he said were “tactical reasons”, describing the approach as “devoid of reality”.
“We’ll wait to see what Mr Cole suggests is in the mind of the DPP but they seem to have a situation that the guidelines can only be a defence exhibit,” he said.
They are a document issued by the government of Ireland, that is the status of the document. For the DPP to seek to ignore the government is outrageous. Mr Cole should make it clear, is the DPP setting up a separate state? Is the DPP ignoring the government of Ireland? Because that seems to be the thrust of what the prosecution is doing.
Addressing the arguments over the guidelines, Judge Fahy said it was a matter for her and that the court “accepts the guidelines”.
Judge Fahy previously noted that the guidelines do “have the Rialtas na hÉireann stamp” and that it would be “unrealistic to disregard” them.
The guidelines also formed part of the cross-examination of Garda Inspector Peter Conlon.
Smyth asked Conlon why the guidelines weren’t included as part of the evidence gathering process.
“You have a duty to collect evidence whether it supports the prosecution or the defence,” he said.
Conlon said he was “aware of the contents” of the guidelines and they were not gathered as evidence as they were “publicly available”.
Smyth also asked Conlon about media reports in February 2021 that charges were to be brought in the case and whether t was appropriate for such reports to have appeared.
In response, Conlon said: “I utterly reject that I leaked information to the press.”
Smyth put it to Conlon that he was the “lead investigator” in the case and he asked how it was possible that information about charges was leaked to the press.
Conlon was also asked about CCTV footage not forming part of the case. He told the court that an investigating garda put in an initial verbal request to the hotel to view CCTV footage but was told that no one was available to show the footage to the garda.
When another request was put to the hotel, he said, gardai were told that the request would have to go through legal teams.
Under questioning from Smyth, Conlon said there was no CCTV recording of the function room in any case.
Walsh, for John Sweeney, said there would be “serious issues” with gardaí obtaining CCTV footage without a legal authority and that there was a “narrative being portrayed” which was “not entirely correct”.
Addressing the CCTV question, Judge Fahy agreed there was indeed “no legal authority” and that while it may be perceived as a “slant against the proprietor” she was “not viewing it like that”.
Significantly, Conlon also agreed with comments from defense counsel that “we would not be here” if there was two separate rooms accommodating the event.
He said it was “my assertion” that it was one room “by way of the fact that there were two openings in the partition”.
well well well… what a surprise!
@Paddy Kavanagh: did we ever expect a different result. This little country of ours knows how to protect the elite.
@Seán Ryan: following a fully transparent legal process – I dare you to go find any corrupt activity, I really do.
@TomTraubert: over 100 people at it
@TomTraubert: The State believed otherwise which is why they proceeded with legal action, I hope you don’t mind me “daring” to say that. We all knew they’d get off, golden circle and all that jazz.
@Frank Cauldhame: by state you mean dpp? The dpp puts forward cases all the time that may or may not end in a guilty verdict. Just because the case is put forward by the dpp doesn’t mean it’s a slam dunk. Anyway, can you find anything in the proceedings that shows golden circles etc? It’s just the usual bitter tired old tropes and tripe until you can.
@TomTraubert: how many travelled outside the accepted radius
@John O Mahony: well it appears they were in 2 rooms, which was allowed at the time. Any other points of law they threw in the bin to “… protect the elite…” ? No, ok then. You can read the whole judgement if you’ve got time, when you do tell me where the corruption lies. Thanks.
@John O Mahony: don’t know, wasn’t there myself and I don’t have the registered address of any of the attendees either. Do you? If you’re so sure there’s wrongdoing, write to someone that can do something about it, rather than resorting to trial by social media but not actually reading the judgement. I’m sure you’re better than that.
@TomTraubert: there were in the same room with a curtain partion, travelled outside accepted radius. If nothing was wrong why did people resign. Now back to the flock for you
@John O Mahony: I’ll be back in a while, just making some popcorn and checking the actual news. I’ll be back later and you can show me your evidence then. Cheers
@TomTraubert: no point arguing with them Tom, its like banging your head off a brick wall. a court has already gone through all the details and ruled no regulations were broken. Poor John dosent seem to understand that.
@TomTraubert: lol I know a cover up when I see it as do most of the people in this country and this one blatant. People couldn’t attend funerals of love ones but a judge says it’s OK for the elite to party. Get a grip of what’s right man
@John O Mahony: walled partition
@TomTraubert: there are plenty of cases of miscarriage of justice and this one is blatant
@TomTraubert: good excuse that you were not there think you might be listening to Boris a bit much
@Sean Minihane: I agree, I came to see the outrage of the people who are outraged that the course of the law of the land was followed but the verdict was not to their liking. Some are, by definition, anarchists and the letter of the law, which is what counts, was not breached even if the event was misguided and used a “loophole” by having people in different rooms so the covid limit was not breached in either room. I know some would have liked a different verdict but the law is the law “and that’s a fact!”.
@John O Mahony: it wasn’t a curtain partition, it was a solid, fireproof room divider.
I’m not a fan of any of these guys, the opposite in fact when it comes to a couple of them, but this judgement seems fair given the evidence.
@james comiskey: If it was that simple there could have been weddings all over the land without any trouble at all.
@John Mulligan: surely if everything was above board then the cctv would of been given. No cctv in a function room is just not plausible and why footage wasn’t seen of cctv of the incident is mind-blowing
@TomTraubert: wasn’t 2 rooms but doesn’t matter what way it was set up the judge & her mates done great to get their facts right with this court case…corruption all the way! It’s us Joe soaps that suffer any consequences!!
@Paddy Kavanagh: convicted by social media before they had a fair hearing in courts jobs lost this is not right keyboard warriors
@John O Mahony: ahh, the sheep angle? Well, the court of law doesn’t agree with you and the rest of the rabid mob. Resignations? To appease the masses, that’s all because you know as well as I do nobody would have been willing to wait to see how things panned out. Wolfe stood his ground and he was right. You’re calling me a sheep? You’re the definition of a sheep going along with the burn and cancel everything brigade and trotting out the same lame and tired stuff as the rest. That’s groupthink right there and you’re the sheep, not me. The facts are not on your side this time.
@Sean Minihane:
@TomTraubert: Hi Tom would you concede that the rules imposed on the general public were very different to those who attended this function? The general public (People) in breach of the rules received fines, the attendees of this function have faced no sanction? ( that some Some lost jobs etc is questionable at best, there has been a blanket ban on who attended this so how can anyone really know) I find it dubious that a learned judge in a lengthy statement about this case gave actual validation to ‘trial by media’ or the “mob” that was an error. In my own mind we should and need to trust the law as society relies and depends on it. An article about corruption in the country being based on the same thing; internet based mob related paranoia and conspiracy appeared in the Irish times only a few days ago, it stated in his opinion corruption barring planning law breaches in the 80 and 90s was the only corruption probable in the country. With all that said can I ask you if the McCabe affair in the north west of the country had shown systemic corruption through numerous government departments? Or was it all a mistake, one after the other? I’m not trying to conflate these occurrences but public trust in the government of that time and the incumbents are at an all time low for a number of reasons. I’m really looking for some real reason to trust this government with the obvious absence of details about this and other matters and as a result cannot with all conscience trust any one who was a part of the aforementioned and the later, these political parties have put a lot of these civil servants in place and anyone even in a normal private job knows you follow the line. Any thoughts?
@John O Mahony:
Read what the Judge said, they were found guilty in the court of public opinion not in a court of law….
This shows how honorable of a person Dara Calleary is when compared to other politicians who clearly broke the rules… The guy didn’t even play golf. He took a 4 hour round trip to speak at an old friends dinner…
@Niall Ó Cofaigh: Quick whataboutery question for you and your fellow bootlickers.
Can the general public use loopholes to circumvent the guidelines? or and other laws and get the same outcome? If so, can you show me a one example. Apologies I won’t be waiting for an answer….
@TomTraubert: “Im not a sheep your a sheep” your some gas bag: a downward facing one…
@TomTraubert: trial by social media can happen when trial by law fails to deliver justice. These people travelled outside that allowed with no legitimate excuse.
@TomTraubert: a grand old servant you are Tom,do you not find it peculiar that the two most publicized events which broke rules were by politicians-with the attorney general getting them off the hook with the zappone large gathering then a judge getting them off with the golf event to the detriment of publicans and hoteliers who were unaware of these loopholes at the time
Of course they were always going to get off.. 1 rule for politicians and another rule for everyone else…. this is how Ireland works.!!!
@PHB090: very glib. The absence of any proper case against the accused was an indictment of the media hysteria around this in 2020. The prosecution witnesses were unable to offer any evidence of consequence.
No journalist will suffer a loss for the pain they inflicted on innocent people.
@Ciaran O’Mara: lol
@PHB090: First, some lost jobs so didn’t get off lightly. Second, the hysterical vitriol against them in various media also means they didn’t get off lightly. Third, no one would have been prosecuted for the same thing as is clear from the judgement. In fact, it looks like if it was ordinary Joe Soaps involved, it wouldn’t have gone to trial in the first place as there would have been no media hysteria pushing for it.
@PHB090: how many ordinary people were prosecuted under this legislation. I don’t remenber reading about a lot. So one law for AAL. WOOHOO
@Bob Murphy: As of December last year the Gardai had issued a whopping 23,112 fines for breach of covid regulations. Interestingly only 47% of those fines have been paid and the rest have had court dates issued. 1024 fines were for events organisers and another 3267 were for those attending. The data is easily found on the Garda website. We know for certain that most of the attendees at the golf event had travelled outside their areas to attend an event that was clearly in breach of the rules at the time. One outcome for the political establishment and another for the ordinary joe soap as usual.
People were fined for driving into the next county, for whatever reason, but this lot held & attended a party and no problems. Corrupt Ireland still going strong
@Jonathan Gildea: I say rescind all flouting prosecutions and fines but I can’t see that happen. Do as I say not do as I do!
@Jonathan Gildea: holding a party was not illegal in August 2020. Read the article before you comment.
@Jonathan Gildea: the point being that no law was broken or they too would have been fined I guess. We have a system in Ireland where trials take place in courts in front of judges who listen to the evidence and examine the law and reach a decision based upon the law and the presented evidence. You however appear to want anarchy and trial by press and unruly mobs? The corruption is in your head if you cannot accept the rule of law and the verdict no matter how much you may have desired it to go another way.
@Ciaran O’Mara: but travelling outside the designated radius was
@John O Mahony: how many of the Sinn fein TDs that attended the funeral in Northen Ireland also disregarded the 5km travel restrictions were fined or sacked? Didn’t see any calls of corruption then why is that?
@Roy Dowling: ah you can’t ask a legitimate question like that because of whataboutery Roy.
@John O Mahony: domestic travel restrictions lifted ,29th June 2020 so you are incorrect. There were no internal travel restrictions in place, the 20 km radius and within your own county being removed. Of course facts can easily be checked but some people live in their own world and reach incorrect conclusions based upon incorrect information. I did look this up as my recollection was that we had lots of people holidaying in Ireland in 2020 https://whatsnew.citizensinformation.ie/2020/06/05/whats-changing-from-monday-8-june/
@Ciaran O’Mara: I tried to visit Hook head the day of GolfGate and not only were we not allowed in the lighthouse we also weren’t allowed into the compound surrounding the lighthouse or the green field that is several acres in size that surrounds that compound to get a better view. So that was that week and whether it was legal or not they deserved to be hauled over the coals for having a dinner like that and setting rules telling everyone else to stop living.
@John O Mahony: what are you
@TomTraubert: @Roy Dowling: any thoughts on the Garda funeral in the same lockdown?
@Niall Ó Cofaigh: and Ciaran, the law was 50 people for an indoor event, and max 6 per table. They had 81 people at 10 tables, go figure the maths there. So yes, the law was broken. But wouldn’t expect anything less from the likes of you defending them, all the same.
@Ciaran O’Mara: not more than 50 and max 6 per table. Also, new restrictions were announced on aug 18th state 6 per table from max of 3 households. Do your research before making yourself look silly
@Epgenetics29 Declan Christoph: yep it was worng shouldn’t have happened. But what’s that got to do with people complaining about this verdict in golfgate blindly ignoring that SF TDs also got away with breaking the covid rules..
@Jonathan Gildea: if the law was broken then how were they acquitted?
@Ciaran O’Mara: you’ll have to ask the judge that! It’s seems very clear that they did break the law. From following the case and details, seems like a very weak case was put against by the state and a lot of details were left out. If this were you or I, would we get away so easily? Highly doubt that!
Surprise Surprise
When are we as a nation finally going to say “No more”, and stop voting for these cl0wns?!!
@Ashling Fenton: never
@Ashling Fenton: the alternative – a dictatorship? For I see your “cl0wns” in every party that has been or aspires to be in power in Ireland.
@Ashling Fenton: well to be fair the main opposition weren’t much better respecting covid lockdown rules. Plenty of SF TDs left the state to attend a funeral in another state all the while Ireland was in lockdown, travel restrictions were in place and people couldn’t attend there loved ones funerals. Not once SF member lost there job or even fined.
@Roy Dowling: Bootlicker alert! Storey funeral was allowed to go ahead as the guidelines were confusing and the obvious tensions around the same. Fast forward or rewind, Garda funeral in Roscommon; nothing to see here! Give your head a wobble…
@Epgenetics29 Declan Christoph:bullcr ap Storey wasn’t in the republic of Ireland for starters and non essential international travel was not allowed. It was clear down here that there was a 5km travel limit was in place and it was also clear that funeral numbers were limited. SF TDs new all of that and didn’t care. They were just as bad as those who went to golfgate
Well theres a surprise, bigger carpet needed to sweep things under!!
@Mel Finn: what carpet? It was a public trial that found there was nothing to answer for.
Really, was there ever going to be any other outcome.
@TheKloppKop: a shambles of a prosecution. The witnesses read like defence witnesses.
@TheKloppKop: No, because no law was broken. A horrendous waste of money brining it to court in the first place
@Thomas O’ Donnell: there was. June restrictions were 50 per event and max 6 per table. From aug 18th, no indoor parties and max 6 per table from no more than 3 households. The event happened on the 19th aug, with 81 people at 10 tables. The maths isn’t complicated.
Lol, get the popcorn cos the outrage meter is about to meltdown.
Case should never have been brought. Waste of massive public resources+cost.
Trial by Social Media doesn’t have a presumption of innocence or apply the rule of law. Will wager the predictable anti establishment conspiracy theorists will be well triggered now but still wont be able to point out the error they see in the Judge’s decision.
@James Gorman: bootlicker.
@James Gorman: exactly what a waste of taxpayers money. All becuase of the fake outrage from the social media muppets. They all owe these fine men an apology.
@James Gorman: I agree with you
@James Gorman: lol
Surprise surprise surprise
So what the court is saying “that we all wasted our time staying indoors and abiding by the rules”?? The government needs to clarify what’s going on here.
@Brendan We Are One Ireland.: evidence? They were there. QED. End of. Any finding otherwise is a sham.
It’s only fair that anybody convicted of gatherings during the restrictions should have their convictions rescinded and all monies paid will be returned.
@Eoghan Augusta: why? Maybe there was evidence against them, unlike this case.
Ah, The good aul irish judicial system.
@Kevin Buston:
Mary Fhay is a good and fair a judge you would find anywhere in Ireland…
Shock… NOT!
Of course they did no wrong…
@Aurelio Na Fodhla: well so the legal system says – what other system do you suggest for establishing the guilt or innocence of individuals and their actions? Mob linching was made illegal and trial by media has no legal basis. The result may not be what many wanted but it is the result of the judgement reached by a qualified judge based on the real evidence presented rather than the words of individuals commenting on a private medis article
@Niall Ó Cofaigh: I never indicated anything did I?
Looks like the law and taxes only implies to us ordinary common people
@doyle: applies to everyone. Find fault in this decision, go on…..
@TomTraubert: I don’t argue with stu.pidity,jog on for yourself
@doyle: so, you can’t then?
Dismiss all Covid related fines and convictions then. This stinks of cronyism.
@Wiill S Rimer: I actually couldn’t argue with that at this stage. Any of those matters outstanding should all be dismissed now. Time to move on for everyone in the road to normality.
@Wiill S Rimer: return all fines ,the only way forward now?
It’s just one big elitist club and none of the rest of us are part of it. Disgusting.
@Pete Slattery ✏️: I’d argue the opposite. This only went to trial because of all the publicity and the people involved. It was never going to result in prosecution as no law was broken.
katherine Zappone is raging …
The judge’s comments on the character of the witness, complaining about the “court of public opinion” and even going so far as to regret some of their loss of jobs and reputation would just make you sick.
Elite protecting the elite. How very Irish.
What a great little country, nothing to see here move along.
Superise Superise it’s not what u know it’s who u know ! This country is rife with corruption.
Well at least we got rid of Phil Hogan…..
Shocked
(Not really)
Taking the p!ss
When your reach a certain level in this country you are beyond prosecution and its not very high..The most corrupt western nation on Earth.
So why did Dara Calleary and Big Phil have to resign ???
Shameful justice another complete cover up by politicians
@John O Mahony: Any proof or did the voices tell you.
Plenty of back slapping
We are all in this together…………….Not
There was never going to be any other outcome to this. Next up the DPP will clear Leo for the crime he admitted to. This is how law and order “works” in Ireland for the chosen few.
@Declan Doherty: A somewhat Timely piece in the Irish times saying corruption doesn’t exist in Ireland, “it’s only the mob” Leo admits wrongdoing, the Morris McCabe affair springs to mind off the bat. It’s so obvious it’s offensive….
I said to many people who asked me and I said it would be dismissed as what else would you expect I bet down the road the judge will be promoted many people are angry they couldn’t go to funerals visit love ones etc people fined this was engineered this way shows the 2 laws and double standards so all those fined for covid should get there money back it’s done to the rule of law many people are now realise how our country works
Haha, that’s sure to annoy the usual mob. Told everyone at the time nothing was wrong, so did Wolfe, everyone said the same. Nothing to see here. And there wasn’t. You don’t think for a second a licenced premises wouldn’t have their ducks in a row around something like this. Now, prepare yourself for no charges against Leo Varadkar as well.
@TomTraubert: they didn’t have their ducks in a row. They put up a blag partition and got away with it. I don’t know if there should have been any convictions for this but seems hypocritical that others were fined for breaching restrictions and these people were not.
@TomTraubert: so it’s OK by you if people leak confidential documents and delete records. Is it any wonder why people have no respect for law and order
@Franny Ando: wrong, he actually didn’t admit to wrongdoing. Said in hindsight he shouldn’t have done it, he had to say something to appease the drooling masses. Nobody gained from it and no laws were broken, hence a year and a half later he still hasn’t been charged with anything. Nobody broke the law in golfgate either so I’m not condoning law breaking anywhere. Unlike those that are desperately trying to justify the funeral trip.
@Aidan O’ Neill: Tom is spot on. JUDGE Fahy had a job to do which she was totally qualified to do. She looked at the facts and made her decision. No case to answer. Time for all the amateur public opinion judges to listen to the expert or go back to school!!
WOW!
Of course he did.
No surprise at all.
BUT…BUT… BORIS… quick , look over there – lets get back crucifying Boris!
Didn’t some guy get 1 month in prison for having a training session in the woods ?
You could have written that headline a year ago.
What a big surprise, really thought they be in big trouble, not. Shocking they look after each other’ 2 rules
I wonder if Judge Fahey is related to the former Fianna Fail Minister Frank Fahey? I’m not in the least bit surprised by the ruling.
We allow these people to appoint themselves into a kind of Irish Aristocratic System where there is one set of rules for us and another for them. Actually I’m wrong there. Because there are no rules for these self appointed elites. They just do as they please and we just accept it. Shame on them & shame on us.
Everyone who had to sacrifice during the pandemic will remember how FFG absolved themselves during this debacle and those families will show their disgust at the ballot box.
Disgrace by a load of s c u m b a g s that’s all they are s c u m we had to do what they say yet they do what they want while mothers fathers brothers sisters died and no one to comfort them in there dying hours government judges the lot just s c u m.now its time for change take back this country
Justice in action folks… banana republic style
Simple, abolish the judiciary and the rule of law and have all decisions made by the MSM and the commentariat.
Who would have thought it, good old Ireland is alive and well after all. Sure they can put in for expenses for being out of pocket for any legal fees.
Meanwhile there are over six thousand grieving families who could not even give their family member a decent funeral.
Shocked! NOT
Them us.
If no rules were broken at the Golfgate event, then Phil Hogan should immediately get his EU job back. He should also sue ursula Von Der Leyen for wrongful dismissal, and he should sue Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar for defamation.
Good. Totally blown out of proportion by the baying mob. Complete waste of taxpayers money.
judiciary not fit for purpose. Letter of the law should not have won in this instance. The spirit of the law should have held sway. Stay at home was the order of the day full stop.
Those with influence in society always believe rules are there to be circumvented by them as they are entitled to do so. The rest of us just have to obey the rules.
Judiciary finding in favour of those with influence is nothing new.
Disappointing but not surprising.
Poxy corrupt dump we live in ..rotton to the core….cant wait to get out of it soon…
@Alan Kirwan: any room in your suitcase
Wasn’t there a granny jailed (twice) for not wearing a mask in a shop..
@Michael Holland: suspended sentence. she had amassed 7 convictions for the same offences. Going into shops and restaurants then refusing to leave when she wouldn’t wear a mask when the staff would ask her. Her defense was that she only answers to God’s law apparently!!!
Remember when voting
Common sense,a waste of tax payers money.
Not a bit surprised “guilty in the court of public opinion” seems apt in this country we seem to always looking for scapegoats
This is just another example of why people need to wake the hell up in this country..
Ah we now their scores.
Akl finished 4 under par.
Multi millionaires the lot of them and not even a fine towards a mental health or suicide charity..
Just booked overtime for the next year …so as I
can pay my taxes….. to go towards paying for this Fiasco
It was a fair trial the judge was magnificent, she will go far maybe chief justice or attorney general one day. Anyway vote ff/fg #1
Grealish looks some candidate for massive heart attack
@O Lusaigh Sean: as Someone who had open heart surgery some years ago your remark is gross.
Surprise surprise and probably awarded their legal fees
It stinks
Oh my God I am so surprised. I really wasn’t expecting that at all.
I see the Government lackeys are out in force. :):) I’d like to say I’m surprised but after the outcome of this farce I’d imagine they were chomping at the bit to comment. It’s no wonder this country is a mess.
Fat cats and schit house rats
When politicians pick the judges there is always one outcome. The plebs live by the rules they make and they live however the fk they want.
Great, now move onto more important things
The judicary are beginning to look like Craggy Island !
Verdict accords with your narrative/political views – ‘Thank God we have an independent judiciary’, the verdict doesn’t accord with your narrative/political views – ‘The judiciary is corrupt and protects the elite’. Beliefs are confirmed and reinforced and everyone’s a winner! Same as it ever was in this country…
76 and a full head of hair, some man
I was looking forward to a huge suspended sentence on this trial very disappointed.
All the big wigs and that’s just Donnie Cassidy
What a corrupt little country we live in… and they have the audacity yo do it publicly for everyone yo see
Dear judge Mary. B****X
Following Boris.
They did not comply, they broke the rules , different rules for the elite the outcome is a total farce
Having 2 parties in my house upstairs entry through back door bathroom upstairs party downstairs entry through front door no mingling like golfgate????????
So, will the DPP appeal this ?
The Golden circle is intact
They are laughing at us….
Who would have guests
A WASTE OF PUBLIC MONEY
TO PLEASE THE MEDIA
Ffs sure we are worse, sitting back and taking it!! People couldn’t sit with their dying family but yet these were able to play a round of golf.. shame on them!!
Four !
You get awarded legal fees when legal issues that are in the public interest are elucidated . This is surely a case in point, but unfortunately not applicable in a criminal case.
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