Colleagues defend judge over ‘coloured people’ remarks

A DISTRICT court judge who sparked controversy over his remark that shopping centres might ban ‘coloured people’ has been defended as exceptionally hard-working.

Judge John Neilan has been widely criticised for warning two women from the Ivory Coast, Africa, who pleaded guilty to shoplifting in Longford that ‘coloured people’ might be banned from local businesses altogether if such behaviour was not stamped out.

The Green Party condemned the remarks and has called on the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, to introduce anti-racism training for judges.