A judge said she must strike a balance between fairness and protecting the public as she dealt with a defendant who appeared in court without legal representation due to ongoing solicitors’ industrial action.
Judge Anne Watkin made the remark while granting bail to a 26-year-old man accused of throwing suspected drugs into the Grand Canal and attempting to flee from gardaí.
Felipe Gonzalez Tadilha Nunez, 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.
It is alleged that after being told to stop by gardaí, Mr Nunez removed a cigarette box containing two bags of suspected drugs - white powder and crystals - from his pocket, threw it into the canal, and tried to run away.
Describing the case as serious, Judge Watkin asked Garda Laura Cunningham if there was any objection to bail. Garda Cunningham said there was none.
The court heard that Mr Nunez had no solicitor present because his legal representative was taking part in industrial action over criminal legal aid fees.
“I have to be more lenient as he has no solicitor,” Judge Watkin said, adding that she must also ensure that “dangerous people” are not released onto the streets.
Mr Nunez was granted bail on his own bond, with conditions including daily sign-on at Rathmines Garda Station, surrendering his passport, and not applying for or using any travel documents.
Judge Watkin warned that he would be returned to custody if he failed to hand over his passport and ordered that the bail conditions be explained to him through an interpreter.
The case was adjourned until March 2, and Mr Nunez was instructed to obtain a solicitor from the criminal legal aid panel.