An elderly woman left a courtroom moments after a judge said she was welcome to stay - if she didn’t cough.
Judge Patrick Durcan interrupted one of the cases before him at Gort District Court in Galway after he heard a person coughing at the back of the court.
After a number of splutters were heard from the body of the court while a case was in progress, Judge Durcan interrupted the case and asked: “Who is coughing?”
After an elderly woman at the back of the room identified herself as the person coughing, Judge Durcan asked: “Does the lady have business in court? You have a case have you?”
After the woman stated that she wasn’t there for any particular case, Judge Durcan asked: “Why are you here?”
In response, the woman stated: “I am just attending.”
In reply, Judge Durcan stated: “I would prefer - you are more than welcome to attend.
“That’s alright, but in view of the international health situation, I would prefer anyone coughing would withdraw.”
He stated: “It is being fair to everyone else. But you are very welcome other than that. If you feel you won’t cough anymore, you are very welcome to stay. I will leave it to your own judgment.”
Shortly after, the woman left the court as Judge Durcan continued to hear cases.
