Extraordinary stand-off as Judge Seamus Woulfe rebuffs several calls to resign

Chief Justice Frank Clarke and Supreme Court Judge Seamus Woulfe. The Chief Justice has no legal powers to remove Judge Woulfe but set out in emphatic terms that his departure was now required to restore public confidence in the Supreme Court which has suffered “very significant and irreparable damage”. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins

Supreme Court Judge Seamus Woulfe has been told by the Chief Justice Frank Clarke that he should resign but is refusing to do so.

Judge Clarke has said he has come to the conclusion that on foot of his attendance at the ‘golfgate’ event and later commentary around it, his departure from this office is now required.