Jail threat for "hoodie"

At a special sitting of Mullingar District Court on Monday morning of this week, Judge John F. Neilan threatened to jail a 23 year old man for wearing a hoodie in court, as he adjourned 61 cases relating to last summer"s disturbances in Mullingar until July 13.Christopher Nevin, with an address at 168 Greenpark Meadows, Mullingar, was one of 61 defendants in court appearing on charges arising from the D"Alton Park riots on July 29, 2008.Mr. Nevin was rebuked by Judge Neilan for placing a hood over his head before leaving the courtroom, and threatened to revoke his bail, and remand him in custody.'What are you doing with a cap on in this court? You are not finished until I say so,' Judge Neilan said to the defendant, as he turned his back to leave the court.The judge ordered him to take his hood down, to which Mr. Nevin replied: 'Do you want me to strip off altogether?'This reply prompted Judge Neilan to place the defendant in temporary custody until he dealt with the rest of court business. Turning to him again, the judge described Mr. Nevin"s behaviour as 'putrid'.'I do not understand why you have to display such hostility to this court and such arrogance,' he said, adding that Mr. Nevin"s behaviour was 'unacceptable' in a situation where there was already a 'certain degree of hostility' in court.'It"s not as if I disrepected you,' Mr. Nevin said, and his solicitor, Patricia Cronin, argued that her client was in the process of leaving court at the time, and understood that his case had been dealt with.Judge Neilan demanded an apology, saying that Mr. Nevin"s conduct was 'intimidating to the little people of Mullingar'.'I"m sorry to everyone so,' the defendant replied.Mr. Nevin and the other sixty defendants were remanded on continuing bail to appear again at Mullingar District Court on July 13, with books of evidence in the 61 cases not yet available to the court.