A District Court judge has been criticised for claiming that it is mainly women who make "spurious complaints".
Judge Thomas Fitzpatrick made the comments at Letterkenny District Court yesterday after a woman withdrew an assault allegation against her fiancé.
The judge made similar remarks at Dungloe District Court on Monday.
When the woman took the stand and said that she wished to withdraw the complaint, Judge Fitzpatrick asked why she made it in the first place. The woman replied that she was in fear at the time and was worried that the situation would get out of hand.
"The next time you cry wolf, people might not listen and the gardaí might not believe you," Judge Fitzpatrick said. "It is becoming a very common occurrence that people make serious complaints and then withdraw them. This is the second time this happened this week and I cannot help but notice that they are mostly made by women.
"What are you women doing making what appears to be spurious complaints against people?"
Judge Fitzpatrick allowed the charges to be withdrawn.
Siobhán McLaughlin, Labour candidate for Donegal North East, said that the judge's comments were "outrageous".
"I think its horrendous that a judge is using his position to take the opportunity to make such generalising and hurtful comments against women."
Ms McLaughlin is manager of the Donegal Travellers Project which recently launched an anti-domestic violence campaign called "16 Days of Action Opposing Violence Against Women".
"Fear is a huge aspect of a women's life, especially those who are victims of domestic violence, and it is downright arrogant for a judge to say that. We are trying to organise this campaign and then someone in a powerful position is saying such insulting things about women."