Paul Murphy alleges pattern of abuse by retired judge
Paul Murphy raised allegations about retired Kerry Judge James O'Connor, describing multiple incidents in which the judge allegedly pursued vulnerable women who were before him on family law matters. He said there is a repeated pattern of abusive behaviour and asked what the government will do to prevent such conduct.
Allegations outlined
Paul Murphy recounted that on 14 July he first raised concerns about Judge James O'Connor allegedly pursuing a vulnerable woman on a family law case. Over the summer he said another woman came forward with a similar account — identified in media reporting as Miss B — including an incident at the back door of the courthouse where she said the judge lunged at her and she pushed him away.
Pattern of behaviour
Murphy referred to multiple incidents and to additional complainants, including a Miss C cited in reporting, arguing the accounts point to a repeated pattern of abusive behaviour by James O'Connor. He cited a recent Michael Clifford story in The Examiner as containing details of these allegations.
Investigations and oversight
The speaker noted that the first case had been brought to GSOC and said existing mechanisms and investigative authorities have not reached the conclusion one would expect. He emphasised that the Oireachtas and the executive cannot investigate every case and raised questions about how diligently such allegations are pursued by the relevant authorities.
Government response and next steps
Paul Murphy asked what steps the government will take to stop this sort of conduct happening again. The Taoiseach said the matter raises very serious issues, that he is concerned by the reporting, and that he will consult with others, give further consideration to how to proceed and revert on the matter.
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On 14 July I raised with you the gross abuse of power by retired Kerry Judge James O'Connor. I explained how he had abused his position to persistently and completely inappropriately pursue a vulnerable woman who was before his court on a family law matter for a sexual relationship. Over the summer I was contacted by another woman who told me a very similar story relating to the same judge. She was again before him on a family law matter. He approached her repeatedly, he got her number and then he persistently pursued her. There were multiple incidents, I won't go through all of them, I'll just quote one incident she told me about. She said he rang me another day and said he had stuff for my case. He told me to meet him at the back door of the courthouse. I went to the back door, he was waiting. He said he didn't have the paperwork with him, he brought me in there to get the paperwork, then he lunged at me. I pushed him and left. He obviously felt he could have done anything he wanted to. That's Miss B in Michael Clifford's story in The Examiner today. There's also a Miss C. There's clearly a repeated pattern of abusive behaviour by James O'Connor. The question is what is the government going to do to stop this sort of thing happening again? I think this is a very serious issue that the deputy has raised. And as you know the first case when I read up on it and so on it went to GSOC. And the existing mechanisms and investigative authorities have not been in a position to bring this to the conclusion that one would anticipate it should be. Governments on their own don't engage in the operational side of prosecution and so on like that. But the issue does raise very serious issues that I will be consulting with others on in terms of how we now take it and deal with this. But there's an overall issue that, you know, the Oireachtas and the executive cannot investigate every single case. So there's a real issue here in terms of the authorities and in terms of how diligent, you know, assertions of this kind and allegations of this kind are followed through and dealt with comprehensively. So I am very concerned about it and what I've been reading today in respect of the articles that you've referenced. And I'll give further consideration to this and revert to today. Thank you Taoiseach.
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