Judge seeks armed protection for next court appearance of defendant

An outspoken district court judge who was harangued by a man he sentenced for contempt has demanded armed protection as well as extra gardaí to be on duty for the defendant's next court appearance. Richard McCann, 108 Aughnaskerry Drive, Cavan town, was jailed for seven days for his outburst at Virginia District Court last Friday. Garda Joanne Gettins told the court that Mr McCann failed to honour bail conditions and it was alleged he rammed into the car of another person, that included his wife and children. Defence solicitor Colm McGovern said his client would deny that happened. Mr McCann was to sign on daily at Cavan Garda Station, obey a curfew between 11pm-7am and to keep away from the McDonagh family. Garda Gettins said it was alleged the defendant had rammed into the back of Mr McDonagh's car when his wife and children were in it. When Judge Sean MacBride informed the defendant he was refusing bail Mr McCann launched into a tirade of abuse and insults. Mr McCann said: "Wow, big deal, you can stick your nose up my f...... a..." "You are nothing but a s....bag, a specky faced b....... go on stick you nose up my a..." Judge MacBride directed the gardai to "cuff" the defendant and remove him from the courtroom. As he was being led from the court Mr McCann continued to shout and roar abuse at the judge. Following a brief adjournment the defendant was brought back before the bench and Judge MacBride afforded him an opportunity to purge his contempt and apologise for his behaviour. However, the defendant replied, "Wow, big deal, there is no way I'm going to apologise to you, you f...... specky faced b......, you can stick your nose up my a..., you are just a specky f...... a big nose b......." Jailing Mr McCann for seven days, Judge MacBride said he was right to refuse him bail. "He is one of the worst criminals to appear before me in my 12 years on the bench." The accused was involved in a criminal feud with another family in Cavan town and if the judge didn't act there would be murder on the streets of Cavan.