A judge threatened to have members of the public gallery arrested after a disturbance broke out in the court where a man appeared on a charge of murder today.
Richard Donovan appeared at Cloverhill District Court charged with the murder of father-of-one Derek McDonagh (27) in Co Offaly on September 20th.
Mr McDonagh was fatally stabbed outside his parents’ home in the Arden View estate in Tullamore.
Mr Donovan (22), with an address of the Unofficial Halting Site, Kilcruttin, Tullamore was charged two days after an incident in which on September 20th.
Mr Donovan, who wore a grey hooded top and dark trousers, was remanded in custody with consent to High Court bail. He is due to appear in court again on November 5th.
When Mr Donovan appeared before the court behind a screen this morning, a crowd of up to 30 people seated and standing at the back of the room began shouting at him. It is believed that the crowd had travelled from the Midlands for the hearing.
Before the court session started, there had also been name calling between members of the public gallery.
Judge Bridget Reilly warned them that she would have them arrested if they did not stop immediately. “You are obliged to respect the court,” she said. “If you are sinking to that level, please know your place. You will be held in contempt if you do that again.”
Judge Reilly made the order subject to those attending giving an undertaking that they would not misbehave in court again or she would bar them from attending.