Top judge: Social media is a threat to justice

The administration of justice is being threatened by the use of social media in the courts, the State’s top judge has said.

Chief Justice Susan Denham said concerns over social media were “widespread and real” and that new laws were needed.

Her comments follow concerns during the Jobstown trial over the use of social media by supporters of the seven defendants and the use of Twitter by defendant Paul Murphy TD, who even received a warning about his tweets from the Director of Public Prosecutions.