Court sketchMr A had had a haircut since he was initially presented to Ms Justice Laffoy on Monday morning. On Monday his lank, greying hair was almost chin-length.
By the time he was led in handcuffs into Court 14 shortly before 2pm yesterday, the room was full to capacity.
As Ms Justice Laffoy took almost 20 minutes to read her judgment he looked at her showing neither concern nor joy.
At no point did he smile or look around for family or friends. The two young women who had been chatting and laughing with him on Monday were not there.
After Ms Justice Laffoy began reading her judgment, the garda who had investigated the case against Mr A and had charged him slipped in at the back of the court. A middle-aged couple and another woman were with him. Throughout, the man stared across the room at Mr A.
Finally, Ms Justice Laffoy said she was "not satisfied that the applicant is being detained in accordance with the law", and directed "his release from detention in Arbour Hill Prison".
There was no reaction from Mr A, nor was there any when counsel for the State asked that his release be delayed so the State could appeal the case to the Supreme Court.
Ms Laffoy sighed before saying she really didn't think she had jurisdiction to do so and reiterated her direction that he be released.
