Former judge James O’Connor to face personal injury case over alleged pursuit of woman for sexual relationship

Personal injuries proceedings are to be taken towards a previous District Court decide alleged to have abused his situation to go after a vulnerable girl for a sexual relationship.

solicitor for the lady informed the Irish Independent that proceedings would concern in the up coming fortnight from Judge James O’Connor, the Courts Services, the Justice Minister and the Legal professional General.

Kevin Winters of KRW Regulation mentioned the required authorisation for the issuing of the lawsuit experienced been received from the Own Accidents Assessment Board (PIAB).

The point out get-togethers did not consent to PIAB evaluating the subject, although PIAB by itself also declined to assess it, clearing the way for proceedings to challenge in court.

Allegations towards the previous choose were being outlined in the Dáil in 2021 and previous year by People Right before Gain TD Paul Murphy.

Mr Murphy claimed the choose got the cell phone variety of a woman who appeared right before him in a relatives legislation make any difference and then utilised it to pursue her “in a way that built her scared”.

The previous choose has not commented on the statements.

Mr O’Connor (70) was primarily based in Co Kerry and retired in 2018 soon after his application to stay on the bench for a additional yr was refused.

“We now have a apparent route map pursuing the new choice of PIAB,” mentioned Mr Winters.

“It’s a timely enhancement. Proceedings will now situation against all the appropriate defendants in the upcoming two months.”

The woman generating the promises earlier complained to gardaí, but it was established no criminal offense experienced occurred. The Garda Ombudsman later on observed no evidence of gardaí mishandling her criticism.

Gardaí are at this time considering irrespective of whether to reopen the investigation after the lady produced a clean assertion containing more details very last June.

The issue was not investigated by the Judicial Council for a selection of good reasons, which includes that its grievances method does not implement if the man or woman complained of was no longer a serving decide at the time the grievance was built.

Speaking in the Dáil very last yr, Mr Murphy elevated the woman’s circumstance, indicating she experienced tried anything probable “to get justice”.

He reported the previous decide experienced “used his place to disgustingly prey upon vulnerable girls who were in advance of him on multiple occasions”.

The then Taoiseach, Michéal Martin, mentioned that the powers of the Judicial Council were not retrospective in conditions of judges who had retired. He also said the Authorities could not interfere in operational garda choices.

In a different Dáil exchange in 2021, Mr Murphy reported a 2nd woman, whom he called Ms B, had claimed Mr O’Connor lunged at her at a courthouse.

The TD said the next woman had also been just before Judge O’Connor on a household legislation make any difference.

“He approached her repeatedly, he obtained her amount and then he persistently pursued her,” Mr Murphy said. “There had been several incidents.”

Mr Murphy go through out an account the female gave him in which she claimed the judge rang her declaring he experienced “stuff” for her scenario and to fulfill him at the again doorway of the courthouse.

The TD quoted the female as saying: “He mentioned he did not have the paperwork with him. He introduced me in there to get the paperwork, then he lunged at me. I pushed him and left.

“He definitely felt he could have finished anything he wanted to.”