Kildare judge criticises garda for bringing bail objection before him

A Naas District Court judge criticised a garda for bringing a bail objection before him on Thursday, October 26 last.

The contested application related to a man aged in his 30s who stood accused of stealing a bike in County Kildare back in 2022.

The garda objected to bail being granted for the man, citing his bench warrant history: he said that the defendant has 28 bench warrants in total, with ten being from this year alone.

Defending barrister Aisling Murphy said that while the facts about the bench warrant history are accepted, but told Judge Desmond Zaidan that her client had been battling an addiction at the time, and still is battling his addiction.

She also said that her client was homeless for a period of time.

The garda agreed with these facts.

She also pointed out to the garda that her client now lives with a relative in Kildare, and this address is known to gardaí.

Again, the garda agreed with Ms Murphy.

When she was about to further elaborate on her client's 'period of instability', Judge Zaidan stopped her, and remarked: "This is absolute nonsense."

Turning to the garda, he said: "I'm going to give him bail. You're wasting my time."

After two bench warrants were executed on the man (one for a Naas District Court matter and one for a County Dublin District Court in matter), Judge Zaidan adjourned the Naas matter to February 22, 2024 for hearing.

The judge also adjourned the Dublin court matter to November 2.