Clare Daly dismisses warrant for her arrest as 'distraction'
Independents4Change TD Clare Daly has dismissed the issuing of warrant for her arrest as a “distraction” saying she will “deal with the matter in due course”, .
A bench warrant was issued this afternoon for the arrest of the Dublin Fingal TD who has been slammed by a Naas District Judge for showing "disrespect".
Speaking in Leinster House, Ms Daly said she was in court this morning but left to be in the Dáil for the job she was elected to do.
“My solicitor was there and I will have to go back in a couple of weeks and deal with this matter then,” she told the Irish Examiner.
“I couldn't stay there all day. I had to be back here at Leinster House to be at the Committee and my other work,” she added.
On New Year's day this year, at Ballymany Newbridge, Co Kildare, Ms Daly, with an address at 2 Elmwood Drive, Swords, was caught driving at a speed of 59km/hr in a 50km/hr zone.
Inspector Mel Smyth outlined that Deputy Daly has no previous convictions.
Defence Solicitor, Cairbre Finan, told the court that Deputy Daly was not present, but had come into court to instruct him to plead guilty on her behalf.
When Judge Zaidan asked if she had given any reasons, Mr Finan said that she had not given any.
Judge Desmond Zaidan said:"She saw how busy we were. A member of the Oireachtas came in and left, what kind of respect is that?"
Defence argued that Deputy Daly did not mean any disrespect to the court. Mr Finan argued that because it was the first day of hearing, a week's adjournment could be requested.
Judge Zaidan refused an adjournment.
He said: "I have adjourned people who have been absent before and then they don't turn up and they are blaming everyone. I have stopped that to protect everyone, why should she be exempt?"
A bench-warrant was issued for her arrest.
Ms Daly has been an arch critic of Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan and her court appearance came just 24 hours after the two women squared off at the Oireachtas Justice Committee.
