Judge's 'political statements' slammed

by DCABT - Dublin Campaign Against the Bin Tax Mon Jul 26, 2004 15:53 HOTLINE: 087 2837989

Update press release on court case held today
Dublin Campaign Against the Bin Tax

Date: 26th July 2004 NO EMBARGO

Press Release: Judge’s ‘political statements’ slammed

The Dublin Campaign Against the Bin Tax has slammed as ‘overtly political’ the statements of a District Court judge hearing a case against a Dublin City Council employee who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, involving running over a protestor during pickets on a Council depot last October.

This morning John Clegg, from Ballymun, pleaded guilty to the offence and offered monetary compensation to Joe Mooney, the secretary of the Campaign Against the Bin Tax, whom he had hit with his truck and dragged 40 yards along the road.

In a shock development the judge hearing the case, David Anderson, unanimously reduced the charge from ‘dangerous’ to ‘careless’ driving and said he believed Mr Mooney had jumped in front of the lorry. Justice Anderson’s statements shocked even the Gardai and Clegg’s legal team, both of whom seemed content with the guilty plea as a reasonable outcome. The defendant was fined just 200 euro.

Joe Mooney, the victim in the incident, said:
"This case is a blatant example of a Judge using the court room to express his own political view, namely his opposition to the community campaign against bin charges. The defendant had pleaded guilty, it was the Judge’s role to sentence him, not to personally take it on himself to alter charges or attack the character of witnesses, such as myself, who would not have the opportunity to reply in court. There are numerous witnesses, and video evidence, to show that Mr Clegg drove at speed through a peaceful protest, broke red lights and left the scene of an accident. There was no disputing of these facts in court."

Mr Mooney continued:
"This was always a political case, the Judge’s statements only confirm this. Mr Clegg was on trial, but the real blame lies with politicians and unelected officials in the City Council. They passed this massively unpopular law and left the City Council workers in the front line to deal with the consequences, trying to force them to refuse to collect bins. The Trade Union officials also refused to actively support either the community protests or their own members. The majority of bin workers opposed the tax, the trade union leadership refused to adopt a principled stand."

He concluded:
"Mr Clegg offered me money to compensate which I refused in court. I did not come to court for a cheque, but for justice. If his conscience demands he make a contribution I would ask he sends it to a worthy charity."

[ENDS]

by ordinary joe Mon Jul 26, 2004 18:17

The hate campaign against Mr Mooney should stop. He is just a lowly Council worker. From my view of the situation he panicked when the mob swarmed around him. Not saying he was in the right.

by Wally watch Mon Jul 26, 2004 18:34

Just an ordinary dumb joe.
Can't even troll properly.
MUPPET!
Clegg is the council worker.

by Anon Mon Jul 26, 2004 18:45

If yer man had got "dangerous driving" would they not take his license from him? Dublin City Council wouldn't let him drive again, would they? What recruitement website would you suggest John Clegg from Ballymun to visit first if made redundant... monster.ie or topjobs.ie?

What justice was Joe Mooney looking for? A custodial sentence?

by Witness Mon Jul 26, 2004 19:13

Clegg himself is not relevant to anything. The situation only arose because the City Council forced the council workers into this position. Clegg is an unstable dingbat anyway, 90+% of the bin workers supported the protestors.

The City Council took Clegg off all driving duties, so his licence or lack of one is not relevant. What is is that a *supposedly* impartial Judge made an open political attack on the victim/campaign in court and got away with it as, because Clegg had pleaded guilty, there was no chance for Mooney's evidence to be heard.

RTE is reporting solely the Judge's ravings and nothing of the statements Mooney made outside the court, or the information in the press release. The usual 'balanced reporting' again.

by Bin Lading Mon Jul 26, 2004 23:08

It's Mooney who is using the court for politcal statements. Here we have yet another example of the compo culture in action. He should be jailed.

by moonwolf Tue Jul 27, 2004 00:23

The judge stating that the protestor jumped in front of the lorry is merely a judge stating a fact, and can hardly be described as political ranting. While i don't condone Cleggs actions, neither do I condone his depiction as some sort of monster by a largely irrevelant organisation that represent a miniscuile percentage of the population.The Bin Tax Issue is dead! so trying to bring it back to life with these outlandish press releases is a waste of space and time.

by Socialist Tue Jul 27, 2004 11:04

"...largely irrevelant organisation that represent a miniscuile percentage of the population."

For most of the thirty years of the troubles you could have said the same about the republican movement but yet you extol their virtues on another thread. What should the bin blockaders have done? Blown up Clegg's truck and kill a few innocent civilians in the process. Or drag him out of his bed in the middle of the night and knee him. Who knows moonwolf perhaps then you would support the bin tax struggle.

by Caobin sná Cistean Tue Jul 27, 2004 12:00

-you must have stayed up all night thinking of that instead of excreting the first shit that popped into your head onto your keyboard.

Like the posturing hypocrisy of "Moonwolf" ; listen to this again;

"The judge stating...can hardly be described as political ranting. "

is followed by this political ranting:
"While i don't condone Cleggs actions, ...(i.e I'm not a racist but..)
.....neither do I condone his depiction as some sort of monster " "a largely irrevelant organisation" "represent a miniscuile percentage of the population." "The Bin Tax Issue is dead! "

Not very good at hiding your FF loving agenda, are you?

by Interested Tue Jul 27, 2004 15:27

How many votes did Mooney receive in the local elections? Seems to me that was the most pertinent " political statement . "'Nuff said!!!

by Number cruncher Wed Jul 28, 2004 11:58

About 950 out of one small area of Dublin, he got 87% of the votes cast in East Wall.

Your point is what? Who are you? How many votes did YOU get in the locals?

by concerned Wed Jul 28, 2004 18:42

He'd be better off tackling all the Fianna Eireann and IRA graffiti in East Wall than chasing bin vans in other parts of Dublin.

by tom Thu Jul 29, 2004 20:10

my faith is restored in the justice system, I reckon if the guy had'nt pleaded guilty hed have been aquitted, there are enough people dying on the roads every day for fools like Mooney to know you don't stand in the path of moving objects over a ton weight (or under a ton weight either) .

Clegg was 63yrs old and out working for a living rather than scabing of the state, I pay my taxes and my bin charges where I am outside dublin and I damn glad of the service,

Mooney is too used to free bees, I doubt he'll be out working at 63 if he has ever worked, the judge is to be commended

by peter Thu Jul 29, 2004 20:12

dosent say much about the voters in east wall

by moonwolf Sat Jul 31, 2004 04:07

You misrepresent my comments on another thread, socialist. The issue there was Truth! I fail to see how suggesting that a truth and reconciliation commission for Ireland is "extolling the virtues" of the provos?unless you refer to the fact that i stated some of the acts carried out by the provos were, from a martial studies point of view, quite brilliant.
Similar to stating that paidi o shea is a brilliant manager dosent mean i am a westmeath supporter! is that simple enough for you?

As for what the bin protester should have done? paid his taxes like the rest of us or not use the service provided!!

by moonwolf Sat Jul 31, 2004 04:22

sna cistean?

Is that the best you can do?
slag off other people!
do you actually have a comment?
Is the use of english confusing to you?
what has race got to do with this?
and which is it, am i a provo lover or a FF lover?

and yes, the socialist party are a largely irrelevant party and they do represent a miniscule percentage of the population of this state, sorry, but it's true.
In fact all the socialist parties(including the shinners) put together still make up a pretty small percentage of the national electorate( i don't include the labour party since the rest of the socialists are continually slagging them off as not being socialist!)

Oh and by the way whats wrong with liking FF? I don't personally , but i don't feel the need to slag of those who do! oh, perhaps it's because i much rather debate with others, probably because i can!!!

by sundog Sat Jul 31, 2004 09:41

Yes moonwolf, you are the great master debater ......

by moonwolf Sat Jul 31, 2004 23:52

How nice of you..................but perhaps just a tad over the top,don't you think?
I claim neither greatness or mastery!

by Sailor Ripley Tue Aug 03, 2004 15:12

"In a shock development the judge hearing the case, David Anderson,
unanimously reduced the charge from 'dangerous' to 'careless' driving"

Unanimously? How could it be otherwise?

by lefty Wed Aug 04, 2004 16:47

Poor Clegg, he's stupid enough to be the bossess man and unlucky enough to be prosecuted for it.

I'm sure theres a lesson there, somewhere.

As for Mooney, stupid enough excpect justice in the states court and unlucky enough to be in the fireling line in the first place.

by marina Wed Aug 11, 2004 14:41

Why don't you give Clegg a job then if you don't want him working for the government. Or take him and his dependents under your wing. Or are you too busy trying to get that essay in before the deadline?