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Supreme Court Justice Seamus Woulfe’s attendance at the Oireachtas golf dinner “is not reason enough” to justify his resignation, a report on the event concluded.
The report, by former Chief Justice Susan Denham, found that while she was wrong in her decision to attend the dinner, a number of mitigating factors must also be considered.
Such mitigating factors, he concluded, mean that he should not have to consider his position.
The matter was debated at a Supreme Court meeting this morning and at a lunchtime meeting of the Judicial Council that approved the report’s release this afternoon.
the may reveal that Judge Denham concluded that it was reasonable for Judge Woulfe to rely on the assurances of the event organizers and his own observations on compliance with Covid-19 regulations at the August 19 event in Clifden.
The presence of Mr. Woulfe, Attorney General of the last Government, in the act of August, revealed by this newspaper, has been the source of considerable controversy and has resisted calls to resign.
Judge Denham’s report is believed to be released later today and Woulfe is said to have defended his decision to attend the event on the grounds that he was assured he was in compliance with Covid-19 regulations.
The Supreme Court said it met Wednesday mainly to decide to send the report to the Judicial Council.
In a statement, he said he had sent the report to the newly established Judicial Council to allow it to consider publishing it in fulfillment of its legal role of maintaining trust in the judiciary.
This morning’s meeting of the Supreme Court was to consider in depth the findings of Justice Denham’s report.
Legal and political sources believe that Judge Woulfe is “digging.”
The Judicial Council board agreed to indemnify Judge Denham.
Judge Woulfe, the former attorney general, was among more than 80 guests who attended the dinner on Aug. 19 after two days of golf.
The event at the Co Galway hotel was held despite Covid-19 public health guidelines that place limits on indoor gatherings. Several TDs and senators attended, along with former TDs and senators.
In the course of her review, Judge Denham met with Judge Woulfe, accompanied by Michael Collins SC, whom she had retained as her legal counsel.
A draft of the report was provided to Mr. Justice Woulfe before Ms. Denham finalized it.
On 24 August, the Supreme Court, in an unprecedented move, requested Judge Denham to consider certain issues arising from Judge Seamus Woulfe’s attendance at an event in the west of Ireland and to report her findings and recommendations to the President of the Supreme Court. Frank Clarke.
Judge Denham was asked to consider whether Judge Woulfe should have accepted the invitation to dinner.
Also, if you should, in all circumstances, have left the hotel in light of the prevailing situation.
Also, if you should have attended the golf event without attending dinner.
“In the context of these questions, Judge Denham has also been asked to consider whether there are relevant codes of practice or guidelines and to make any appropriate recommendations in this regard. This non-legal approach has been necessary due to the fact that the relevant sections of the Judicial Council Law of 2019 have not yet been initiated, ”the Supreme Court said.
The controversy surrounding the event has led to the resignation of Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary as Minister of Agriculture and European Commissioner Phil Hogan.
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