Limerick lecturer jailed for contempt

A lecturer was jailed today after telling three judges of the Supreme Court - including the Chief Justice - they were corrupt.

Denis Riordain made the outburst after the hearing of a motion relating to costs for litigation in which he is currently involved.

He directed his comments at the court’s three presiding judges, Chief Justice Mr Justice Ronan Keane, Mr Justice Frank Murphy and Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman.

On the direction of the court Riordain was arrested and taken into custody. Some hours afterwards he was offered an opportunity to withdraw the remarks and apologise, but refused to do so.

The Chief Justice then said Riordain was guilty of contempt in the face of the court. And he ordered that the lecturer should be detained in Mountjoy jail until he purged the contempt.

Riordain, from Limerick, is known as one of the most active litigants on the legal scene and has initiated a number of cases, often against the state, over a period of years.

After today’s incident in court, he looked shaken, but said he was not coming out of prison until his latest case was heard by ‘‘a properly-constituted’’ Supreme Court.

And asked how long he was prepared to stay in jail, Riordain replied: ‘‘As long as it takes,’’ adding: ‘‘I have no regrets.’’