The District Courts are normally quiet during August, with just the occasional remand hearing and special sittings to hear emergency applications.
The stillness surrounding Dublin District Court yesterday morning was shattered, however, when news spread that two of the Republic's international soccer players, Phil Babb and Mark Kennedy, were due to appear in the dock.
Team manager Mick McCarthy and the team's physio, Mick Byrne, arrived at 10.15 a.m., to be greeted by a media frenzy. When the doors of Court 46 opened they entered and sat at the back, looking stern. They spoke briefly with Mr Andrew Walker, the solicitor representing the players. A smile crossed the team manager's face when a young fan asked for his autograph. He duly obliged.
The courtroom was packed and as cases began to be called, the toing and froing made it almost impossible to hear anything. The court registrar had to call for silence several times.
A number of defendants were called. One was sent forward for trial; another was charged with stealing a pair of Wrangler jeans from Roches Stores. There was no sign of Phil Babb or Mark Kennedy, the soccer stars who most present had come to see.
One man was on his way from a hospital appointment when he heard on the radio that the players were due in court. He dashed in for a look. "At least now Mick McCarthy might drop Babb from the Irish team," he said optimistically.
There was a moment of levity when the case of a Michael Byrne was called. i shouted down a stairway, where defendants awaited their court appearance, for Mr Byrne to come forward. The Republic's physio laughed and breathed a sigh of relief. When Babb and Kennedy were finally called, they looked calm and relaxed after their night in custody. They chatted and laughed between themselves.
They stood in the dock as the arresting garda made her way to the witness-box. Judge William Earley told them they could take a seat. You would have heard a pin drop as Garda Elaine Farrell gave evidence of arresting the two early yesterday morning at Harcourt Street in the city. The defendants then left the courtroom flanked by gardai to walk a short distance to lodge bail money and sign bail bonds in a different section of the building. They were cheered by residents standing on the balcony of a flats complex behind the court before returning to court and confirming their signatures on bail bonds. They were then released.
A few young soccer fans ran after them seeking their autographs.
Derek Maher (13), from Ballyfermot, managed to get the autographs of Mick McCarthy and Mark Kennedy. The Leeds United fan hopes to follow, in at least some ways, the footsteps of Babb and Kennedy. However, he was disappointed not to get Babb's signature.
But he wasn't the only one going home with a long face. Shortly afterwards Babb and Kennedy were also going home and they can't have been smiling either.