COURTS: One of Ireland’s most respected judges has encouraged teachers to bring pupils to court to show them how the criminal justice system works.
Judge John O’Hagan has been a judge for 19 years, ten of which has been spent in Letterkenny – and he confirmed that he will retire from the position next year.
The affable judge was addressing a number of potential jurors who weren’t needed by the circuit court – when he made the suggestion to bring students to the courtroom.
Judge O’Hagan said, “I want to thank all of you for coming, it was your civic duty, and it’s a very important one at that, we couldn’t operate without the juror system.
“We appreciate your time is precious, and everybody dreads getting a letter for jury duty, but you performed a civic duty.
“There may be some of you in the teaching profession, and I’d encourage you to bring transition years students to the court and see how the system works.
“It is something we have done before, and we all take time to facilitate them – they usually ask me how much I earn, and I tell them to go and check the internet!
“But it is very beneficial for them to see the how the system works, and the serious consequences breaking the law can have.”