E66 The Fifth Court - Retired District Justice Olann Kelleher talks to hosts Peter Leonard and Mark Tottenham about Cork, Cocaine and Criminals

E66 The Fifth Court

Hosts Mark Tottenham BL and Peter Leonard BL have a most entertaining discussion with retired District Justice, Olann Kelleher, about his fourteen years on the bench in Cork (as well as being on the bench for the historic Munster V All-Blacks match in 1978 - including a classic one-liner from legend Moss Keane).

The former judge says there are too many loopholes in our drink/driving laws and they need to be updated. Continuing on the alcohol theme his greatest shock was the abuse suffered by A&E nurses and other staff who are regularly attacked by drunken patients. He cites the case of one nurse who was so traumatised by being attacked that she'll never work as a nurse again.

He is hugely concerned about the amount of cocaine use in Cork and he explains how he dealt with 'first time cocaine' cases along with the Probation Services.

And he refers to the harassment of Cork legend Roy Keane by locals, a subsequent court case and the wisdom of the Number 16 shirt wearer and why he insisted on bringing the matter to court, against the wishes of his then employers.

His recommendation of a legal book for either professional or lay person is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic's book, 'The Supreme Court' - easily the most recommended book on the podcast.

This interview will put a smile on your face.

Our interlocutors also review three cases from the Decisis.ie casebook

• A waste management case and the refusal of a permit to a person deemed not 'fit and proper'
• A case involving a planning delay that our two barristers felt would have great significance for 'delayed' cases.
• A case about misconduct in court (accused threw a bible at the judge) and whether the accused could be sanctioned by the Prison Authority.

With thanks to Clio.com/ie

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