Judge Miriam Walsh briefly hospitalised after alleged assault in court

Judge Miriam Walsh of the District Court was briefly hospitalised on Friday after a man allegedly assaulted her during court proceedings.

The alleged assault took place around lunchtime in the family law court at Dolphin House in Temple Bar, Dublin, after Judge Walsh granted a five-year domestic violence order against the son of an elderly couple.

The respondent in the case reportedly punched Judge Walsh in the head before kicking her on the ground according to The Irish Times.

Judge Walsh was taken to St James’s Hospital, where she was treated for some minor injuries and later discharged.

Ken Murphy, director general of the Law Society, called the attack “an audacious assault on the face of justice itself”. David Barniville SC, chairman of the Bar Council, agreed it was “deplorable and to be utterly condemned”.

A spokesperson for the Courts Service of Ireland said the “violent incident” took place before 1pm on Friday.

He added: “A female judge was injured in the course of the incident and was taken to hospital.

“Security systems are in place in the courts at the venue and were operational. This allowed the gardai to intervene and make an arrest.”