Judge accused of being 'sexist' at Kildare court
Judge Miriam Walsh
A MAN accused Judge Miriam Walsh of being sexist after she denied his protection order application.
The man came before Naas District Court seeking a protection order against his ex-partner following an incident where she arrived at their dual-owned house to collect her belongings in the early hours of the morning while the man and his new partner were in bed.
“It put fear in both of us,” he said. “She arranged it to be early morning to incite intimidation.”
The man explained that the relationship had ended between himself and his ex-partner last year and since then she had moved out of the house they both owned together and were not on speaking terms.
The man also noted that the woman has been back a number of times to “take things.”
Judge Miriam Walsh asked the man: “Are you afraid of her?”
He replied: “I have been afraid of her for the last 12 months – that’s why I ended the relationship.”
The man went on to tell the court of the history of his relationship with the woman which allegedly involved assault causing injury by punches to the face and threatening him with a knife while they were together.
The man also mentioned that he had sought a protection order against the woman previously which was not granted.
The judge and registrar took time going through the files and noticed that protection orders were sought by both parties from January into February of this year that were not granted.
With all this in mind, Judge Walsh decided to refuse the man’s application on the grounds that the woman was not illegally entering the home – that she was entitled to enter and take things belonging to her.
After the decision had been made the man included details that his ex-partner had threatened to drag his partner out of the house, to which the Judge advised she would have to make a separate application to seek protection.
The man responded to this and said he was “very disappointed” with the decision, remarking that it was “sexist” and that if the roles were reversed it would be a different outcome.
Judge Walsh did not hide her disgust at the comment.
“How dare you. This is a court of fairness," said the judge. “How dare you sit in front of me and say if roles were reversed it would not be the same – that is categorically untrue. Goodbye.”
The man then left the court and when the judge called the man back only moments later, he was nowhere to be found.
Judge Walsh then said she wanted for it to be put on record that this man accused her of being sexist.
