Man caught in Offaly court using phone to record proceedings
Apology made after detective in Tullamore courtroom seized mobile and deleted video
A MAN apologised at Tullamore District Court after he was seen recording proceedings briefly with his mobile phone.
Detective Sergeant David Scahill intervened during a case to inform Judge Andrew Cody that the prohibited recording was taking place.
Detective Sergeant Scahill said he saw the man using the phone to record video while a man was appearing before the court by video link.
Judge Cody previously prohibited publication of the identity of the accused man, a 62-year-old with mental health difficulties who is currently serving a sentence.
The man faces numerous charges of public drunkenness at various locations in Tullamore, including the Midlands Regional Hospital, Paddy Power bookmakers on William Street, and at Main Street, O'Connor Square and Bridge Street.
He is further accused of breaches of the peace at the hospital on three occasions and public drunkenness and a breach of the peace at Lyster Square, Portlaoise on another.
The offences were allegedly committed on dates between December 6, 2025 and May 1, 2026.
The court was told he had received a three-month sentence, with another three months to be served consecutively, at a District Court in another county in May.
The man appeared before the District Court on a video screen in the courtroom in advance of other accused persons and the general public being allowed entry.
The defendant was represented by Brian Duffy, solicitor, and another man told Judge Cody he was in a position to offer the accused temporary accommodation if he was released.
He told the court the defendant had worked for many years as a plumber but had an alcohol problem.
He gave the court an address at which the man would be accommodated.
Judge Cody said there was nothing he could do about the sentence which was being served but he could remand the man in custody with consent to bail.
The case was then interrupted when Detective Sergeant Scahill told the court the recording had been taking place, saying both the judge and the video screen were recorded.
When the man said it was “only seconds” which had been recorded, Detective Sergeant Scahill examined the phone and said it was 37 seconds. He deleted the recording.
Judge Cody remanded the defendant in custody with consent to bail to appear in court again by video link on August 6.
Mr Duffy apologised for the behaviour of the other man.
(Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme)