A meeting between Ireland’s Chief Justice and Supreme Court judge Seamus Woulfe over the latter’s attendance at a controversial golf dinner has been postponed for a third time.
Mr Justice Woulfe’s session with Frank Clarke is part of a resolution process emanating from a report investigating his decision to attend the event amid coronavirus guidance against large indoor gatherings.
The Chief Justice “very reluctantly” agreed to the latest postponement.
Mr Justice Woulfe, a former attorney general who was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court in July, faced criticism after it emerged he was among 81 guests who went to the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner in Clifden, Co Galway, in August.
A spokesman for the Chief Justice said Mr Justice Woulfe had now requested another postponement, for a meeting which was originally scheduled for the start of last week.
The spokesman added: “The Chief Justice has indicated that, very reluctantly, he is prepared to make one final postponement of the proposed meeting until Thursday.
"The Chief Justice has made it clear that, should
the meeting not go ahead as scheduled on Thursday, he will make alternative arrangements to convey his final views on the process to Mr Justice Woulfe.”
Former Chief Justice Susan Denham, who carried out the report on Mr Justice Woulfe’s attendance at the dinner, said he did not break any law or knowingly breach any Covid-19 guidelines.
She found that Mr Justice Woulfe did “nothing involving impropriety” that would justify calls for his resignation.
She added that such a step would be “unjust and disproportionate”.
