A Limerick college lecturer, Mr Denis Riordan, was removed from the Supreme Court by gardaí yesterday after saying to the court: "You are three lying judges."
The outburst came as the three-judge court was hearing an application by the State seeking legal costs against Mr Riordan, of Clonconane, Redgate. The courts have rejected a number of constitutional challenges brought by Mr Riordan against the State, members of Government and the judiciary.
On October 19th, he failed to persuade the Supreme Court to set aside decisions it had made. He was told the matter before the court yesterday was to deal with the State's application for costs.
Mr Riordan told the court it was corrupt, and said he should not be asked to pay costs. He wanted a full Supreme Court hearing because the decision of October 19th was capricious, arbitrary and not based on any facts.
Mr Justice Murray, the presiding judge, said the hearing was confined to costs.
He told Mr Riordan: "You are indulging in unacceptable vulgar abuse of this court. It is not acceptable. You have lost the case." He added that the court would not hear extraneous matters.
Mr Riordan responded: "The matter of truth is not extraneous. This is another corrupt judgment."
He argued he had a constitutional right to pursue these matters, and submitted costs should not be awarded against him because they were an act of "gross fraud" against him.
Mr Justice Murray said Mr Riordan had an opportunity to address the question of costs. If he continued to abuse the court, he would be removed.
Mr Riordan said if there was an award of costs made against him, he would ask for a stay so that he could address a five-judge Supreme Court hearing.
Mr Justice Murray said Mr Riordan's behaviour was quite unacceptable, and asked him to sit down. Mr Riordan continued to address the court, and Mr Justice Murray again asked him to sit down. Mr Riordan said: "You are corrupt judges."
Mr Justice Murray said Mr Riordan had had an opportunity to address the court on the question of costs but he had instead indulged in unbecoming behaviour. Mr Riordan then said: "You are three lying judges."
Mr Justice Murray then asked two gardaí to escort Mr Riordan from court.
The judge said the court had afforded Mr Riordan an opportunity to address the question of costs. He had brought proceedings which effectively sought to set aside previous court decisions. Under the Constitution such decisions were final and conclusive. The court had no reason to depart from the practice that the losing party must pay costs and ordered that Mr Riordan pay them.
The other judges were Ms Justice Hardiman and Mr Justice Fennelly.