‘I do not apply one law to rich and another to poor’

DISTRICT Court Judge Michael Pattwell yesterday said he did not apply one law to the rich and one to the poor in the case of defendants who appeared before him.

The judge said this accusation was levelled against him in the case of Ballymaloe chef Tim Allen, who was convicted of possessing child pornography two years ago.

Judge Pattwell ordered Mr Allen to do 240 hours community service and make a "healthy" contribution of 40,000 to the local child charity, the Edith Wilkins Foundation, as a substitute for the nine-month jail term which the offence carried.