KILDARE COURT: Noise from Naas hotel interrupts court sitting
A judge said he will not renew a licence for the Court Hotel in Naas if noise continues to emanate from the premises while the local District Court is sitting.
The sound of machinery could be heard when Judge Desmond Zaidan was hearing a case involving a man, who allegedly bit his partner’s lip and kicked her in the head and who appeared before by videolink.
The court heard that the man has been remanded in custody having secured High Court bail, which was subsequently revoked.
However the judge said he was unable to hear evidence in the case.
He said if the noise continued he would not grant a licence application made on behalf of the enterprise in the future.
“I will not grant it,” he said, adding that the need to hear cases coherently is in the public interest.
Referring to the court hearing he said, there is a man in custody against whom allegations have been made. A garda visited the site and requested that noise cease.
He also said that whatever work needs to be done could be done earlier in the morning, at lunchtime or in the evening when the court is not sitting.
“This happens all the time," he said and asked prosecuting garda sergeant Dave Hanrahan to request that his superintendent invite the hotel proprietor to a meeting to “explain the workings of the court.”
He said if the proprietor is not prepared to adhere to that then “the rest is up to me.”
Defending solicitor David Gibbons said that the complainant in the case does not want it to go ahead but Sgt Hanrahan said she has made a statement and has not withdrawn it.
Commenting on the delay, the sergeant said the case is complicated because the State is dealing with witnesses who are foreign nationals and don't speak english.
Judge Desmond Zaidan adjourned the case for the preparation of a book of evidence.