Committee gets green light to investigate judge

The Supreme Court today cleared the way for a parliamentary committee to investigate the alleged misbehaviour of Judge Brian Curtin.

The Circuit Court judge was acquitted of charges of possessing child pornography in 2004 after the warrant used to search his house was found to have been out of date.

He had challenged the constitutionality of an Oireachtas committee that was set up to investigate his behaviour in the wake of the verdict.

At the Supreme Court in Dublin, Chief Justice John L Murray said he was satisfied that the committee would be able to accord the judge his full rights to justice and fair procedures.

“Having found against the appellant (Judge Curtin) on all issues, the court dismisses the appeal,” he said.

Judge Curtin had argued on three separate grounds that he could not be forced to hand over his computer, which allegedly contained child pornographic images.

But the Supreme Court ruled that the Oireachtas committee had a right to examine the computer, which is currently being held by gardaí.