(File Picture: Judge Anne Watkin. Photo: Collins)
A judge said she has to balance being fair with ‘not letting dangerous people out onto the street’ as she dealt with an accused left without legal representation due to ongoing industrial action by solicitors.
Judge Anne Watkin made the comments as she granted bail to a man accused of throwing two bags of suspected drugs into the Grand Canal before attempting to flee from gardaí.
Felipe Gonzalez Tadilha Nunez (26) of Mount Pleasant Avenue Lower, Dublin 6, appeared in custody before Dún Laoghaire District Court. He is charged with obstructing Garda Lee McEnroe under the Misuse of Drugs Act at Charlemont Place, Dublin 2, on 20 February, 2025.
The charge alleges that, after gardaí told him to stop, Mr Nunez took a cigarette box containing two bags of white powder and white crystals from his pocket, threw it into the canal and tried to run away.
‘This is serious’, Judge Watkin said before asking Garda Laura Cunningham if she was objecting to bail. Garda Cunningham said she was not.
The court heard that Mr Nunez did not have legal representation because his solicitor was participating in the ongoing industrial action over criminal legal aid fees.
‘I have to be more lenient on him as he has no solicitor’, Judge Watkin said.
‘But I have to balance being fair with not letting dangerous people out on the street’.
She remanded Mr Nunez on bail on his own bond, subject to signing on daily at Rathmines Garda station, surrendering his passport and not applying for or using any other travel documents.
Judge Watkin warned the accused that he would be held in custody if he failed to hand over his passport and directed that the bail conditions be explained to him through the interpreter. The case was adjourned until 2 March for hearing, and he was told to obtain a solicitor from the criminal legal aid panel.