The following is a transcript of the Circuit Court proceedings on Thursday, November 12th, 1998, which led to the release of Philip Sheedy after serving one year of a four-sentence for dangerous driving causing the death of Mrs Anne Ryan.
A copy of the transcript was given to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality and Women's Rights yesterday by the Department of Justice. Opposition members of the committee criticised the brevity of the hearing, as evidenced by the transcript:
Judge (Mr Justice Kelly): Who appears in Philip Sheedy, No 19 in the list?
Mr Luigi Rea: I appear.
Judge: Is he [Philip Sheedy] here?
Mr Rea: Yes, my lord.
Judge: Can you bring him up for me? Subject to the prosecution, this is a case where I have had the benefit of a psychology report and . . .
Mr Rea: I have some testimonials.
Judge: I have grave concerns in relation to his mental condition at the moment. OK. So I will suspend the balance of his sentence, own bond of three years to be of good behaviour. There is no review in that sentence, is that right?
Mr Rea: No, my lord.
Judge: No, it has been brought in by the defence. Under the supervision of the Probation and Welfare Service.
The Prosecution (believed to be a law clerk from the Chief State Solicitor's Office): My lord, there is a review date.
Judge: It was removed, I under stand?
Clerk of the Court: The 29th October, 1999, it was fixed for.
Mr Rea: It was vacated by Judge Mathews subsequently.
Judge: Yes. It was vacated, thank you. His own bond.
(The defendant entered a bond.)
Mr Rea: May it please your lordship.
Judge: Thank you.
Hearing adjourned and later resumed
Judge: Mr Rea, that last matter . . . As usual, I read my papers. Just the various reports give concern in my mind in relation to his mental stability.
Mr Rea: Yes, my lord. That is my concern.
Judge: That is for the record any way.
The hearing concluded