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Judge's 'political statements' slammed

category dublin | bin tax / household tax / water tax | press release author Monday July 26, 2004 15:49author by Dublin Campaign Against the Bin Tax

Dublin Campaign Against the Bin Tax

Date: 26th July 2004

Press Release:

The Dublin Campaign Against the Bin Tax has slammed as 'overtly political'
the statements of a District Court judge hearing a case against a Dublin
City Council employee who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, involving
running over a protestor during pickets on a Council depot last October.

This morning John Clegg, from Ballymun, pleaded guilty to the offence and
offered monetary compensation to Joe Mooney, the secretary of the
Campaign Against the Bin Tax, whom he had hit with his truck and dragged
40 yards along the road.

In a shock development the judge hearing the case, David Anderson,
unanimously reduced the charge from 'dangerous' to 'careless' driving and
said he believed Mr Mooney had jumped in front of the lorry. Justice Hamilton's
statements shocked even the Gardai and Clegg's legal team, both of whom
seemed content with the guilty plea as a reasonable outcome. The defendant
was fined just 200 euro.

Joe Mooney, the victim in the incident, said:
"This case is a blatant example of a Judge using the court room to express
his own political view, namely his opposition to the community campaign
against bin charges. The defendant had pleaded guilty, it was the Judge's
role to sentence him, not to personally take it on himself to alter charges
or attack the character of witnesses, such as myself, who would not have
the opportunity to reply in court. There are numerous witnesses, and video
evidence, to show that Mr Clegg drove at speed through a peaceful protest,
broke red lights and left the scene of an accident. There was no disputing
of these facts in court."

Mr Mooney continued:
"This was always a political case, the Judge's statements only confirm this.
Mr Clegg was on trial, but the real blame lies with politicians and unelected
officials in the City Council. They passed this massively unpopular law
and left the City Council workers in the front line to deal with the
consequences, trying to force them to refuse to collect bins. The Trade Union
officials also refused to actively support either the community protests or their
own members. The majority of bin workers opposed the tax, the trade union
leadership refused to adopt a principled stand."

He concluded:
"Mr Clegg offered me money to compensate which I refused in court. I did
not come to court for a cheque, but for justice. If his conscience demands
he make a contribution I would ask he sends it to a worthy charity."

Comments (21 of 21)

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author by DCABT - Dublin Campaign Against the Bin Taxpublication date Mon Jul 26, 2004 15:53author address author phone HOTLINE: 087 2837989

Update press release on court case held today
Dublin Campaign Against the Bin Tax

Date: 26th July 2004 NO EMBARGO

Press Release: Judge’s ‘political statements’ slammed

The Dublin Campaign Against the Bin Tax has slammed as ‘overtly political’ the statements of a District Court judge hearing a case against a Dublin City Council employee who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, involving running over a protestor during pickets on a Council depot last October.

This morning John Clegg, from Ballymun, pleaded guilty to the offence and offered monetary compensation to Joe Mooney, the secretary of the Campaign Against the Bin Tax, whom he had hit with his truck and dragged 40 yards along the road.

In a shock development the judge hearing the case, David Anderson, unanimously reduced the charge from ‘dangerous’ to ‘careless’ driving and said he believed Mr Mooney had jumped in front of the lorry. Justice Anderson’s statements shocked even the Gardai and Clegg’s legal team, both of whom seemed content with the guilty plea as a reasonable outcome. The defendant was fined just 200 euro.

Joe Mooney, the victim in the incident, said:
"This case is a blatant example of a Judge using the court room to express his own political view, namely his opposition to the community campaign against bin charges. The defendant had pleaded guilty, it was the Judge’s role to sentence him, not to personally take it on himself to alter charges or attack the character of witnesses, such as myself, who would not have the opportunity to reply in court. There are numerous witnesses, and video evidence, to show that Mr Clegg drove at speed through a peaceful protest, broke red lights and left the scene of an accident. There was no disputing of these facts in court."

Mr Mooney continued:
"This was always a political case, the Judge’s statements only confirm this. Mr Clegg was on trial, but the real blame lies with politicians and unelected officials in the City Council. They passed this massively unpopular law and left the City Council workers in the front line to deal with the consequences, trying to force them to refuse to collect bins. The Trade Union officials also refused to actively support either the community protests or their own members. The majority of bin workers opposed the tax, the trade union leadership refused to adopt a principled stand."

He concluded:
"Mr Clegg offered me money to compensate which I refused in court. I did not come to court for a cheque, but for justice. If his conscience demands he make a contribution I would ask he sends it to a worthy charity."

[ENDS]

Related Link: http://www.stopthebintax.com
author by ordinary joepublication date Mon Jul 26, 2004 18:17author address author phone

The hate campaign against Mr Mooney should stop. He is just a lowly Council worker. From my view of the situation he panicked when the mob swarmed around him. Not saying he was in the right.

author by Wally watchpublication date Mon Jul 26, 2004 18:34author address author phone

Just an ordinary dumb joe.
Can't even troll properly.
MUPPET!
Clegg is the council worker.

author by Anonpublication date Mon Jul 26, 2004 18:45author address author phone

If yer man had got "dangerous driving" would they not take his license from him? Dublin City Council wouldn't let him drive again, would they? What recruitement website would you suggest John Clegg from Ballymun to visit first if made redundant... monster.ie or topjobs.ie?

What justice was Joe Mooney looking for? A custodial sentence?

author by Witnesspublication date Mon Jul 26, 2004 19:13author address author phone

Clegg himself is not relevant to anything. The situation only arose because the City Council forced the council workers into this position. Clegg is an unstable dingbat anyway, 90+% of the bin workers supported the protestors.

The City Council took Clegg off all driving duties, so his licence or lack of one is not relevant. What is is that a *supposedly* impartial Judge made an open political attack on the victim/campaign in court and got away with it as, because Clegg had pleaded guilty, there was no chance for Mooney's evidence to be heard.

RTE is reporting solely the Judge's ravings and nothing of the statements Mooney made outside the court, or the information in the press release. The usual 'balanced reporting' again.

author by Bin Ladingpublication date Mon Jul 26, 2004 23:08author address author phone

It's Mooney who is using the court for politcal statements. Here we have yet another example of the compo culture in action. He should be jailed.

author by moonwolfpublication date Tue Jul 27, 2004 00:23author address author phone

The judge stating that the protestor jumped in front of the lorry is merely a judge stating a fact, and can hardly be described as political ranting. While i don't condone Cleggs actions, neither do I condone his depiction as some sort of monster by a largely irrevelant organisation that represent a miniscuile percentage of the population.The Bin Tax Issue is dead! so trying to bring it back to life with these outlandish press releases is a waste of space and time.

author by Socialistpublication date Tue Jul 27, 2004 11:04author address author phone

"...largely irrevelant organisation that represent a miniscuile percentage of the population."

For most of the thirty years of the troubles you could have said the same about the republican movement but yet you extol their virtues on another thread. What should the bin blockaders have done? Blown up Clegg's truck and kill a few innocent civilians in the process. Or drag him out of his bed in the middle of the night and knee him. Who knows moonwolf perhaps then you would support the bin tax struggle.

author by Caobin sná Cisteanpublication date Tue Jul 27, 2004 12:00author address author phone

-you must have stayed up all night thinking of that instead of excreting the first shit that popped into your head onto your keyboard.

Like the posturing hypocrisy of "Moonwolf" ; listen to this again;

"The judge stating...can hardly be described as political ranting. "

is followed by this political ranting:
"While i don't condone Cleggs actions, ...(i.e I'm not a racist but..)
.....neither do I condone his depiction as some sort of monster " "a largely irrevelant organisation" "represent a miniscuile percentage of the population." "The Bin Tax Issue is dead! "

Not very good at hiding your FF loving agenda, are you?

author by Interestedpublication date Tue Jul 27, 2004 15:27author address author phone

How many votes did Mooney receive in the local elections? Seems to me that was the most pertinent " political statement . "'Nuff said!!!

author by Number cruncherpublication date Wed Jul 28, 2004 11:58author address author phone

About 950 out of one small area of Dublin, he got 87% of the votes cast in East Wall.

Your point is what? Who are you? How many votes did YOU get in the locals?

author by concernedpublication date Wed Jul 28, 2004 18:42author address author phone

He'd be better off tackling all the Fianna Eireann and IRA graffiti in East Wall than chasing bin vans in other parts of Dublin.

author by tompublication date Thu Jul 29, 2004 20:10author address author phone

my faith is restored in the justice system, I reckon if the guy had'nt pleaded guilty hed have been aquitted, there are enough people dying on the roads every day for fools like Mooney to know you don't stand in the path of moving objects over a ton weight (or under a ton weight either) .

Clegg was 63yrs old and out working for a living rather than scabing of the state, I pay my taxes and my bin charges where I am outside dublin and I damn glad of the service,

Mooney is too used to free bees, I doubt he'll be out working at 63 if he has ever worked, the judge is to be commended

author by peterpublication date Thu Jul 29, 2004 20:12author address author phone

dosent say much about the voters in east wall

author by moonwolfpublication date Sat Jul 31, 2004 04:07author address author phone

You misrepresent my comments on another thread, socialist. The issue there was Truth! I fail to see how suggesting that a truth and reconciliation commission for Ireland is "extolling the virtues" of the provos?unless you refer to the fact that i stated some of the acts carried out by the provos were, from a martial studies point of view, quite brilliant.
Similar to stating that paidi o shea is a brilliant manager dosent mean i am a westmeath supporter! is that simple enough for you?

As for what the bin protester should have done? paid his taxes like the rest of us or not use the service provided!!

author by moonwolfpublication date Sat Jul 31, 2004 04:22author address author phone

sna cistean?

Is that the best you can do?
slag off other people!
do you actually have a comment?
Is the use of english confusing to you?
what has race got to do with this?
and which is it, am i a provo lover or a FF lover?

and yes, the socialist party are a largely irrelevant party and they do represent a miniscule percentage of the population of this state, sorry, but it's true.
In fact all the socialist parties(including the shinners) put together still make up a pretty small percentage of the national electorate( i don't include the labour party since the rest of the socialists are continually slagging them off as not being socialist!)

Oh and by the way whats wrong with liking FF? I don't personally , but i don't feel the need to slag of those who do! oh, perhaps it's because i much rather debate with others, probably because i can!!!

author by sundogpublication date Sat Jul 31, 2004 09:41author address author phone

Yes moonwolf, you are the great master debater ......

author by moonwolfpublication date Sat Jul 31, 2004 23:52author address author phone

How nice of you..................but perhaps just a tad over the top,don't you think?
I claim neither greatness or mastery!

author by Sailor Ripleypublication date Tue Aug 03, 2004 15:12author address author phone

"In a shock development the judge hearing the case, David Anderson,
unanimously reduced the charge from 'dangerous' to 'careless' driving"

Unanimously? How could it be otherwise?

author by leftypublication date Wed Aug 04, 2004 16:47author address author phone

Poor Clegg, he's stupid enough to be the bossess man and unlucky enough to be prosecuted for it.

I'm sure theres a lesson there, somewhere.

As for Mooney, stupid enough excpect justice in the states court and unlucky enough to be in the fireling line in the first place.

author by marinapublication date Wed Aug 11, 2004 14:41author address author phone

Why don't you give Clegg a job then if you don't want him working for the government. Or take him and his dependents under your wing. Or are you too busy trying to get that essay in before the deadline?


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