Two men accused of contempt after court violence

TWO young men were remanded in custody accused of contempt of court arising out of a violent incident in court where the father of the man accused of murder was attacked in the public gallery as the first witness of the day was about to be sworn in.

Mr Justice Paul Carney reminded the two men accused of contempt of court that he had unlimited powers of fine or imprisonment.

“What I am advising you is to get legal representation. I am remanding you in custody until Tuesday. Your lawyers should appear at this stage.

“Statements will be made available. This is an extremely serious matter,” the judge said.

The summary trial on the contempt of court issue will be dealt with at the end of evidence in the murder case when the jury retire to consider their verdict.

John Faulkner of 23 Dunmore Gardens, Knocknaheeny, Cork, and Charles Faulkner of 51 Pine Valley, Ballyvolane, Cork, were both remanded in custody.

Garda Donal Hegarty said that at 10.10am he saw John Faulkner, 23, kicking Patrick McCarthy of Cois Coille, Killarney, Co Kerry.

“He (Faulkner) began shouting that he would kill him. I grabbed hold of John Faulkner,” Garda Hegarty said.

Sergeant Alan Cronin said: “I saw Charles Faulkner in the public gallery trying to get over to the McCarthy family, making threatening gestures to the McCarthy family. I arrested him.”

This evidence was presented in front of the jury in the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Cork.