CW Trial collapses again - 'perception of bias'

national | anti-war / imperialism | other press Monday November 07, 2005 19:12 by indie-soc

Shannon war protesters trial collapses again

The trial of five antiwar protesters accused of criminal damage of a United States Navy plane at Shannon Airport has collapsed following a suggestion by the defence that the trial judge had attended the inauguration of George W Bush as US president.

Judge Donagh McDonagh told the jury that matters had arisen in its absence and he had "no option" but to withdraw the case from it.

It was day 10 of the trial and this is the second time the case has been withdrawn from a jury before it concluded.

Defence counsel had asked Judge McDonagh to confirm whether or not he had, as a barrister in the mid 1990s, attended a conference in Texas which involved a photo call with the then Governor Bush.

Counsel for the five accused also suggested that Judge McDonagh was invited to both of Mr Bush’s presidential inaugurations and attended the first in 2000.

Mr Roderick O’Hanlon SC told Judge McDonagh that matters had been brought to the attention of the defence team which could lead it to ask the judge to disqualify himself from handling the trial as they touched on issues relevant to the trial.

Mr Brendan Nix SC said it was not a question of "actual" bias but the "perception of bias".

See link for full story from IOL