Government response on hold as Curtin gets more time

THE Government had given Judge Brian Curtin a week — which many considered a throwing down of the gauntlet to the beleaguered Tralee judge — but in the event, he had responded within three days.

Solicitors representing the judge acquitted last month on charges of knowingly possessing child pornography made contact with the Government last Friday asking for further time to respond to the issues raised by the Government primarily how the judge's credit card had been used to purchase images from a US pornography website.

The two-week extension means no decision will be taken on the publication of the reports from the DPP and the Garda Commissioner, both of whom were asked to outline their roles in the case, and to respond to the harsh criticisms made of them by trial judge, Carroll Moran.