The recently-appointed Supreme Court judge, Séamus Woulfe, has apologised for his attendance at the Oireachtas Golf Society event in a hotel in Clifden, Co Galway.
The judge said on learning of the proposed dinner during the course of the day, “my understanding was that the organisers and the hotel had satisfied themselves that they would be operating within Government public health guidelines.” It has been reported that the hotel room where the dinner was held was partitioned into two sections so as to comply with Covid regulations that no indoor event should be organised that involved a gathering of more than fifty people.
The Courts Service has greatly reduced the range of court hearings that are being held because of social distancing rules that have seen an almost complete halt to jury trials. While the Taoiseach can sack a member of his Cabinet, the Chief Justice cannot force a member of the court to resign.Mr Justice Woulfe is highly-regarded lawyer who is reported to have a good relationship with Chief JusticeA judge can only be removed from his position if the Oireachtas votes to do so but nobody has suggested Mr Justice Woulfe’s attendance at the Clifden dinner would justify any such proposal.