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21/05/2008
Monaghan Judge Apologises For Calling Tyrone people 'Thick'
An outspoken judge was forced to apologise after branding the people of Tyrone as "thick".
Judge Sean McBride made the comment last week in Monaghan District Court as he ruled on a case involving a young woman from the North.
Sarah McGrath, from Donaghmore, Tyrone was facing a public order offence after she was wrongly summonsed to court following a name mix-up.
A legal technicality left her facing a €50 bail bond to have the case thrown out in another court; however, she was unable to pay the bill as she only had cash in Sterling.
Judge McBride, in a fit of frustration, said the 22-year-old was showing "the typical thickness from Tyrone people".
The Judge, who was born in Derry and grew up in Donegal, apologised at Clones District Court today and insisted he was trying to help the young woman.
He said: "During a long day's work, whilst I was trying to assist a lady who was wrongly prosecuted due to mistaken identity, I regret that I passed a comment that was totally inappropriate about Tyrone people."
"This comment was never meant to be offensive as I have nothing but regard for the people of Tyrone, but clearly to those reading the articles it came across otherwise. For this I apologise."
Barry McElduff, Sinn Féin MLA for West Tyrone, described the comments as outrageous.
(DW)
Judge Sean McBride made the comment last week in Monaghan District Court as he ruled on a case involving a young woman from the North.
Sarah McGrath, from Donaghmore, Tyrone was facing a public order offence after she was wrongly summonsed to court following a name mix-up.
A legal technicality left her facing a €50 bail bond to have the case thrown out in another court; however, she was unable to pay the bill as she only had cash in Sterling.
Judge McBride, in a fit of frustration, said the 22-year-old was showing "the typical thickness from Tyrone people".
The Judge, who was born in Derry and grew up in Donegal, apologised at Clones District Court today and insisted he was trying to help the young woman.
He said: "During a long day's work, whilst I was trying to assist a lady who was wrongly prosecuted due to mistaken identity, I regret that I passed a comment that was totally inappropriate about Tyrone people."
"This comment was never meant to be offensive as I have nothing but regard for the people of Tyrone, but clearly to those reading the articles it came across otherwise. For this I apologise."
Barry McElduff, Sinn Féin MLA for West Tyrone, described the comments as outrageous.
(DW)
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