Clare Daly: ‘Judge causing big problems for State’

Clare Daly has accused the judge who issued a bench warrant against her of “causing huge problems to the administration of justice”.

Judge Desmond Zaidan issued a bench warrant for the Independents4Change TD earlier this month at Naas District Court for a motoring offence.

During a debate on judicial appointments last night Ms Daly said the judge was “well known in the area, for whatever reason, for not starting judicial proceedings on time” adding that the way he runs his court was costing the State.

Speaking under Dáil privilege she said: “He is causing huge problems to the administration of justice.

“The expense to the State of every day maybe having 100 guards, solicitors’ people, tied up while he operates his court like that and no one can say anything to him is utterly ludicrous.”

She said she had attend the court in the morning but had to leave in the afternoon to attend an Oireachtas Committee but had instructed her solicitor.

Ms Daly added that she had witnessed cases in the same court that were up on “similar charges” and did not show up or did not have a solicitor but yet did not have a bench warrant issued.