A judge has said politicians are "misinformed about the damage women can do". According to last week's Tullamore Tribune, Judge John Neilan said politicians should come down to the district court and not live in ivory towers.
"Perhaps some politicians don't believe that ladies can do a jig on a table when they are on their ear," he said. "A lot of politicians in Dail Eireann and other people think women are capable of doing no wrong."
He was commenting on a case which involved the defendant's partner dancing on a table in the Bridge House Hotel. She had already been fined for the incident. "Sorry your lady friend got you into such difficulty," the judge said to the defendant as he fined him. "You've learned the hard way."
His remarks followed criticism of Judge Michael Connellan in February after he described women as "acting like alley cats" and "fighting like savages".
Judge Connellan made his comments at Newbridge District Court when he heard that a defendant punched a woman in the face after being attacked by three people.
These comments were criticised at the time by women's groups and politicians, including Fine Gael's Ms Frances Fitzgerald and PD councillor Ms Fiona O'Malley.