Seamus Woulfe cancels third Golfgate fallout meeting

The Supreme Court judge attended the Clifden dinner event which breached Covid-19 restrictions. Picture: Gareth Chaney Collins

Chief Justice Frank Clarke has criticised Mr Justice Seamus Woulfe for the damage caused by continually postponing meetings to discuss the fallout from the Golfgate controversy. 

It comes as Mr Woulfe requested to postpone his meeting with the Chief Justice for the third time. 

In a statement this afternoon, the Chief Justice Clarke expressed "his very serious concern" about the damage caused by the continued delays in the process to address the Golfgate controversy

The meeting has now been "very reluctantly" postponed until Thursday, but the Chief Justice warned that if this meeting does not take place then "alternative arrangements" will be made for the Chief Justice to "convey his final views on the process to Mr Justice Woulfe”.

A spokesman for the Chief Justice said: "The Chief Justice and a colleague of the Supreme Court were due to meet Mr Justice Woulfe and a judicial colleague of his choice today. 

"At the request of Mr Justice Woulfe’s colleague, the Chief Justice and Mr. Justice O'Donnell met with that colleague.

"Mr Justice Woulfe, through his colleague, requested a further postponement of the meeting. 

"As a result of what was said at that meeting, the Chief Justice has indicated that, very reluctantly, he is prepared to make one final postponement of the proposed meeting until Thursday.

The Chief Justice has indicated his very serious concern as to the damage which the continuation of this process is causing."

This was the third attempt at holding the meeting, after it was postponed on two occasions last week, the latter at the request of Mr Justice Woulfe for medical reasons.

The Supreme Court judge attended the Clifden dinner event which breached Covid-19 restrictions.

Last August, 81 people attended the highly controversial golf dinner event at a hotel in Clifden.

The scandal, dubbed 'Golfgate', led to the resignation of attendees like Agriculture Minister Dara Calleary and Ireland's EU Commissioner Phil Hogan.

Senator Jerry Buttimer also resigned as Leas-Cathaoirleach of the Seanad.

A subsequent review of Mr Justice Woulfe's attendance by former Chief Justice Susan Denham found he should not be forced to resign over the scandal.

She said this would be unjust and disproportionate.

Chief Justice Frank Clarke will meet with Mr Justice Woulfe later to discuss the findings.