A large force of gardaí were on duty during the court hearing, both inside and outside the courthouse.

The defendant had six previous convictions for road traffic offences

“It’s 27 degrees out there. She’s entitled to wear what she wants to court.”

Legal aid was assigned in the case

Portlaoise District Court had previously been told that the defendant had a level 8 degree in childcare.

"I’ve been paying to him for nearly the past year.”

The defendant was remanded on bail

He had been convicted at a previous sitting of the case to exposing his genitals intending to cause fear, distress or alarm to another person

“It’s not his field,” said the 61-year-old. “It’s my field.”

Judge Cody said: “It wasn’t his lucky day, so.”

During stages of the case, the woman accused gardaí of tricking her into coming to court,

‘He felt the traffic in Portlaoise needed directing’