A woman in Letterkenny Circuit Court avoided a contempt of court charge this week after being caught taking a photograph of an accused person during a hearing.
The accused man was in the witness box at the time of the incident.
While the man was giving evidence, Judge John Aylmer stopped the court proceedings, suspecting the woman, who was present in courtroom number 1, of recording.
Judge Aylmer described the act as “a very serious matter,” noting a recent trend of similar occurrences in courts nationwide.
“The only official record of this court is the DAR (digital audio recording),” Judge Aylmer stated.
Following a discussion with Gardai, State prosecutor Ms. Fiona Crawford BL informed the court that “a photograph was taken.”
Judge Aylmer advised the woman to seek legal counsel.
According to a detective who spoke with the woman, she admitted to taking a single photograph of the man to show it to a family member.
Judge Aylmer stated, “If she was recording, beyond the photograph, I would be inclined to impose a fine.”
Contempt of court is defined as behavior that disrespects or defies the authority of the court, including unauthorized photography or recording of proceedings.
The consequences for contempt of court can be severe, ranging from fines to imprisonment, depending on the gravity of the offense.
Woman avoids contempt after Judge asks if she was recording in Letterkenny court was last modified: June 11th, 2025 by
