Man jailed over ‘turkey’ taunt

A man charged with heroin dealing was sent to the prison cells at a district court yesterday after telling a judge that he was a “turkey”.

At Ennis District Court, Judge Patrick Durcan told prison officers to bring Paul Collopy, aged 40, of Gordon Drive, Cloughleigh, Ennis, Co Clare, “to the cells immediately”. Judge Durcan made the order after Mr Collopy reacted to being told “to keep quiet” by the judge.

In reply, Mr Collopy told Judge Durcan: “I won’t keep quiet, you turkey.”

As he was being led out of court, Mr Collopy told Judge Durcan: “Go fuck yourself, you clown.”

Judge Durcan told Insp Tom Kennedy: “I hope inspector that what is said will be dealt with by the gardaí.

“I getting tired when I see this type of behaviour in court and nothing is being done about it. It brings the administration of justice into complete abuse.”

The incident was sparked yesterday after Mr Collopy — who was seated in the courtroom — communicated with his girlfriend who was standing a short distance from him while another case was being heard by Judge Durcan.

Judge Durcan told the woman that she must leave the court.

Yesterday’s incident was the second time that Judge Durcan’s court was disrupted by a prisoner in recent months. Last October, Brian Joyce, of St Enda’s Beechpark, Ennis, mooned at and later exposed his genitals in court at Judge Durcan. Mr Joyce subsequently pleaded guilty to a public order offence arising from the incident.

After lunch yesterday, Mr Collopy was brought back before Judge Durcan where he was charged with a public order offence arising from the earlier incident in the courtroom.

Mr Collopy is charged with engaging in threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause a breach of the peace contrary to Section 6 of the Public Order Act.

After Judge Durcan said he could not deal with the case and remanded Mr Collopy in custody, Mr Collopy stood up in the court and told Judge Durcan: “I want to apologise for my outburst earlier.”

In court earlier, Mr Collopy told the court “I’m an innocent man” in relation to being charged with possession of €26,950 worth of heroin with the intention for the sale and supply of the drug at Ballycorey, Ennis, on November 22, 2015.

Mr Collopy is also charged with having a ‘tick-list’ in his possession in connection with committing a drugs offence on November 17 at his Ennis home.

Mr Collopy was remanded in custody for the service of a book of evidence to February 24.