Limerick judge rows back on neck tie demand after being confronted by a open-shirted psychiatrist

A judge has rowed back on his neck tie rule for male witnesses after being confronted by a open-shirted psychiatrist at Limerick Circuit Court.

Judge James O’Donohue earlier this week took another professional witness to task when he entered the witness box without a tie.

Judge O’Donohue told well-known Limerick architect, Noel Kerley: “We want the right kind of dress and proper decorum here. This is not a Ryanair kind of show we are running here.”

Mr Kerley, who had come to court as a witness in a pub licensing matter, briefly left the court and after acquiring a tie, returned.

However, Judge O’Donohue relaxed his dictat when another professional witness told him he does not wear a tie for professional reasons.

Dr Patrick Doyle was called to give evidence in an assault case. As he approached the witness box without a tie, Judge O’Donohue advised Dr Doyle it was normal docorum in his court for male witnesses to wear a neck tie.

Dr Doyle said he had just come from a busy HSE clinic at the Tevere Day centre in Shelbourne Rd in Limerick. He pointed out to Judge O’Donohue that as a consultant he did not wear a tie.

Judge O’Donohue did not take the matter of the consultant’s lack of a neck tie any further.