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SUPREME COURT JUSTICE Seamus Woulfe described the media coverage of the Golfgate scandal as “appalling”, and claimed the social event was treated like the “Ku Klux Klan”.
When it was put to him by former chief justice Susan Denham that the event in Clifden caused a “huge public controversy”, Woulfe said that the press coverage was “completely fake, [and] overblown”.
A transcript of the conversation that took place between Denham and Woulfe was released yesterday evening, after a report earlier this week from Denham found it would be “unjust and disproportionate” for Woulfe to resign over his attendance at the dinner.
The report detailed the exact details leading up to Woulfe attending the controversial golf event in Clifden.
The scandal cost then-Agriculture Minister Dara Calleary a seat at Cabinet. EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan was also forced to resign having attended the event.
There were also calls for Justice Seamus Woulfe to stand down from his position as a Supreme Court judge. Denham carried out a full investigation into the incident, and her report was published on Thursday.
Appendice D of the report shows a transcript of the discussions between Woulfe and Denham on 8 September, and includes previously unreleased details.
News updates
The event took place on Wednesday 19 August. A day earlier, Taoiseach Micheál Martin had addressed the nation and introduced a raft of new restrictions.
The new government guidance outlined that indoor gatherings and events were now limited to six people from no more than three households. However, in terms of indoor events, there was an exception for weddings with 50 guests still allowed.
Updated guidance was not immediately issued to hotels, however, to reflect the new advice from the government.
Woulfe told Denham that he was on holiday at the time and was trying to “switch off” from the news cycle.
Denham: “But you weren’t aware, that evening, of the Government announcement?”
Woulfe: “No, no, and unusually for me, you know, I didn’t really check my phone for news as much. I didn’t buy a newspaper the next morning that I would normally do. There wasn’t one available on the reception desk. I would nearly always, when I’m staying in a hotel, you know, I’m a newspaper addict get the newspaper and read the news. But I didn’t do that. And to some extent it was deliberate, I was switching off.”
Woulfe also told Denham he wasn’t aware there was a dinner included on the Wednesday until the day itself.
‘Ku Klux Klan’ and media criticism
In one section describing how well organised events from the Oireachtas Golf Society had been, Woulfe took aim at the media’s coverage of the event.
He said: “It’s a little bit of digression but I’m appalled at the kind of media treatment of the society event and the [...] it’s presented, in some way it’s like a Ku Klux Klan now, because on that day and both times there was a friendly social atmosphere.”
The Supreme Court judge also described his surprise when the golf event began to hit headlines, after it was first reported by Aoife Grace Moore and Paul Hosford in the Irish Examiner.
Supreme Court justice there, comparing media coverage of the Oireachtas golf society to coverage of the Ku Klux Klan. Wrongheaded and hurtful in the first instance, absolutely mind-blowingly stupid after that. https://t.co/uaxUxgNvNJ
— aoife moore. (@aoifegracemoore) October 2, 2020
He said: “Before I went to bed that night I was back to my news addiction and I flicked on the news headlines on, I know I shouldn’t, on The Examiner newspaper and I was astonished to see that they had as a lead story something about Dara Calleary attending a golf dinner and I said, ‘this is the greatest load of rubbish ever now.’
“I don’t know, on the Thursday night had they mentioned my attendance or anybody else, but they had a breaking story that Dara Calleary attended a dinner. I thought nothing of. I thought, ‘Jesus, they’re really scraping the barrel here during the silly season in August.’
But then I woke up the next morning and I think the phrase is, I was absolutely dumbfounded to hear that Minister Calleary had resigned or been forced to resign by the Taoiseach, on account of him having attending the dinner. And it was a summary dismissal kind of atmosphere that he had done something terribly wrong.
And I was absolutely dumbfounded and shocked. So I hadn’t been aware of any breaches of the Regulations or Guidelines at that stage. I still hadn’t when I saw the news of Dara Calleary resigning and I was astonished. I tried to rack my brain, you know, ‘God, was there something here that I’ve missed? What are they talking about?’
Woulfe said the “key thing” in the media was that they were pressing “that there had been a new rule that number had gone from 50 to six and I was astonished at by that”.
The former Attorney General, who only left that role in June for his Supreme Court position, said it had been the case previously that NPHET would make recommendations and this would be considered by government and announced, rather than being put into immediate effect.
Pre-judging
Towards the end of the conversation, Mr Justice Woulfe was asked if he accepted that the event had created a huge public controversy.
He said: “Yes, it but it looks objectively to be completely fake, overblown. Every paragraph starts off “attended a dinner of 80 people”. Virtually every paragraph of media coverage says that. If they’re having an interview with Joe Duffy about his life they throw in a question, ‘isn’t it appalling what those people did in Clifden?’ Virtually every article I’ve read, I’ve gone back to the Sunday newspapers.
In one sense I suppose that is so, that for the media to also have the chance to bring down a judge adds an extra fuel to the fire and it did add to the controversy that I was there. Even if objectively there was no valid reason why I shouldn’t have been there.
But taking the world we live in in the more subjective sense and in that sense could be seen as, you know, bringing the Supreme Court into controversy. But objectively I think it’s more damaging to the Supreme Court if they allow some sort of theoretical damage to the institution prevail over hounding a judge out of office for no valid reason.
And I would hope that the Supreme Court didn’t prejudge the matter in the way that so many other people did. I would hope they didn’t and they’ll have your report to actually outline the true facts
Woulfe added that, “in this mood of hysteria”, not even judges were “above prejudging”.
“I can’t be sure that even some of my colleagues have prejudged me,” he said.
Apology
Denham asked Woulfe at one point why he issued an apology after it first emerged that he had attended the event.
He said: “Okay. But all this is relevant because there’s a keyword — sorry, I’ll just say first of all I was dumbfounded. What did I do? I couldn’t think of any breaches by me except I thought, look, like anybody, maybe I didn’t social distance a hundred percent perfectly all through the night, which I think probably applies to us all if we go to any gathering or family event. And that’s all I could think of initially.
Now, I was a bit hesitant about doing it because I wasn’t sure what I was apologising for, but if was there any unintentional breach, for instance, if the number was six and I hadn’t known it, as was being presented. And I think what’s very interesting is – and I’ve only noticed this yesterday when I went back to the apology – the fact that I said ‘do apologise for any unintentional breach of any of the new guidelines on my part’.
Denham said it was an “important part of the picture” that he’d issued this apology.
Woulfe replied: “Can I just say, Judge, you know I maintain that position. If it still is the case that there was intentional breach on my part I obviously apologise, still apologise and apologise again. But it is fair to say that it appears now, objectively, that there was no breach by the organisers, let alone by me.”
Woulfe also expressed his displeasure that Dara Calleary was “forced” to resign and expressed his sympathy for the event organisers.
He said: “Just for completeness, I know we’re probably finished, can I just add that I feel terribly sorry for the people who organised this event. They did it in good faith, they meant no harm and they’ve been absolutely pilloried as if they’re responsible for something appalling and dreadful.
“I also feel sorry for some of the unfortunate politicians who feel the need to confess to a crime they may not have committed, or don’t know whether they committed or not, but feel that the media torture and the opprobrium from their community resulting from it is too great to fight their corner in any way, or bother trying to establish the true facts.”
With reporting from Stephen McDermott
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He has to go.
@Julian Swann: why
@Julian Swann: Disagree. Many decades of work go into becoming a judge. Deserving of punishment and reprimand, but wholly disproportionate to lose his job. We need a culture of people in public office being willing to admit mistakes- not a pre-judged witch-hunt at the first sign of controversy, which naturally leads to attempted cover ups and dishonesty. Balance and nuance on these issues is required. Keep the dogs in their kennels for now!
@up down: but we don’t have a culture of that. We have a culture of arrogance and the rules apply to the plebs not me attitude. We have a culture of favouritism, nepotism and cronyism. The is no balance in a country where a man who robs 100 quid gets Jail but a man who robs 100million gets a state bail out. People in positions like chief justice have to be held to a higher standard hence the punishment is more severe how can you have someone who purports to be the bastion of law and order in the country defying state guidelines. And by the looks of it that he’s got off the hook he’s not one bit apologetic eithet
@Julian Swann: Mob justice is no justice.
@Patrick O Connell: why not? He flouted the restrictions we’ve all had to follow. This supreme court judge, whose job it is to decide whether laws made by the legislature are legal or not, has been hobknobbing with TDs the whole time, thereby throwing his middle finger up at the supposed separation of powers, and the Irish people. He has no credibility left to pass judgement on his fellow citizens, given this very public failure of judgement by him. Now instead of any sort of contrition, he’s comparing those who hold him to account as the KKK and blaming the media for catching him out. If I ever have the misfortune of ending up in a courtroom opposite this eejit, I’ll refuse to recognise his authority, because he has none left.
@up down: He didn’t admit his mistake though, he doubled down on nobody at that event doing anything wrong. The only empathy and regret shown is towards the other attendees at the event having received consequences for their actions.
He believes himself a victim.
@Julian Swann: He is no different from The rest of those people at that hotel. Does he not feel that he is not accountable?. Big Phil thought that!
@Patrick O Connell: Lack of judgement???hes a judge ffs
@up down: we need those that make law be accountable. For too long in this country certain groups are seen to be above the law.
@Michael McGrath: absolutely couldn’t agree more. The whole event stank of arrogance. How can you have faith in a person of his position after his actions. He made a conscious decision to attend despite the current climate and it was a 2 fingered salute to all those who could not attend funerals of loved ones etc.. This shouldn’t even be up for debate.
@Michael McGrath: well said , pure arrogance and total disregard for the Irish population. As for not noticing or knowing about the other room through a partition that was partially open… come on !!!!
@up down: It does not take controversy for cover ups concerning politicians and the judges in this country. Jerry Buttimer who was forced to resign and other senators who attended golf gate have been appointed to Oireachtas committes. At a recent meeting between government ministers and the banks Brian Hayes was a representative for the banks at this meeting. Hayes went into hiding after he and his unnamed guests were exposed. Vast majority of the people have abided by the guidelines. Yet the likes of politicians, bankers when cought call it a witch hunt. A judge investigated by a judge . The circus continues.
Lack of good judgement by a Supreme Court judge. Ah yes! The guidelines are for ‘ The Little People’ !!! Forgot that !!
@Getaldine Byrne: If you are rational about the same dukes applying to all of us, surely everyone of us who breaks a guideline, intentionally or not, should lose our jobs? Don’t hear anyone shouting for that! So what you really are calling for IS a different set of rules for them, but not for us! At least be consistent.
@Ger McDonnell: Rules…
@Ger McDonnell: if your job is to implement the rules you don’t get to re-write them to suit yourself. If as a judge you can’t follow the rules / guidelines you don’t deserve the privilege of that role.
Completely fake he said. Can somebody find out which planet that man lives on please?
@David Corrigan: “maybe I didn’t social distance a hundred percent perfectly all through the night, which I think probably applies to us all if we go to any gathering or family event”
Certainly not this one if he thinks we’re all routinely attending large gatherings and events during a pandemic.
@David Corrigan: Zog. With Zig, Zag, Snotser and meself.
The absolute cheek! He broke the rules knowingly, then when people didn’t accept his hollow apology he claimed innocence and persecution. Sorry now but that man has more neck than a giraffe!
@Rachel O’ Meara: broke the advice!
@Joe: sure no doubt everyone that attended the rave in Oliver Bond Street or the students partying at Spanish arch are saying the exact same as this man!
Or does he feel one rule for politicians and judges and a different one for everyone else??
Pleading Ingonarnce as his defense, does he know much about law..
@John Lavin: Ingonarnce?
“It’s appalling that I’ve been caught breaking pleb laws, don’t they know who I am!?! I make the judgements around here, how dare the peasantry hold me to account!” Resign now and save whatever remnant of respect that remains for our judiciary.
Disturbing lack of empathy evident….
@Peter B: He basically admitted his apology was forced and not genuine as well…
What can one say after reading that
@Richard Cronin: Sitting here trying to work out what t*#t means? I thought I had a bit of a tongue on me but that one has me stumped. Not twit by any chance? Or maybe the first t should be a c? That would fit the guy for sure.
@Virus-free Turkey: you are so close with C but if you add the letters W & A it is another word to describe the fore mentioned
Who was the imperial wizard that invited the guests judge lobbyists bankers which tds which senators etc etc@??????
@Joseph Duggan: Wigzer Cassidy was gig organiser methinks. Tha man who makes the Healy-Reas’ look like decorum personified.
A clown of the highest order. Also quite disturbing how someone who has such contempt for all of the media, general public, impartiality for his position and general health guidelines could wind up as a supreme judge.
Micheál Martin and Leo Varadkar must condemn him immediately and declare his position untenable in the same way they did for Phil Hogan.
@Rochelle: they can’t
He has to go. The complete lack of any sort of responsibility is astounding! Totally detached from the real world and what is happening around him.
Another case of sure aren’t I better than the average Joe and rules do not apply to me. I can rule on the law but don’t know how to follow rules. Signs of a bad decision maker the neck.
Not good enough apology & should Fired or resign for his scandal golfgate
Who made out the guest list bankers lobbyists tds senators judge?????
@Joseph Duggan: don’t forget Vultures.
Most of us follow wven recommendations which nobody bothered to be put in law, the venue hasn’t followed rules for their line of business and a JUDGE doesn’t see an issue with that.
Says it all why people are growing tired to follow the advice of the elite
Unbelieveable a judge sprouting such nonsence i had to avoid contact for 6 months with my family and grandchilďren why does he think he is any different from the rest of us he is so smug
Unbelievable
Neck of him just cause your judge sir dont mean your above the law either come down off that high horse resign wit some sort of dignity, I’m sure if your son or daughter caught Corona you would fall off your swivel leather chair wit fear you sap just go take your hundreds thousands of pension wit ya,, how god name can this man go forward while still sitting judge,,,
Lack of judgement for God sake, hes supposed to be a judge.
Is that a Charvet shirt he’s wearing?
He’ll hang on but there’ll be a smell around the Supreme Court for a long time to come. That’s a big problem.
He’s been at the receiving end of social media outrage and yes, that’s uncomfortable, maybe even distressing. But it’s hardly comparable to black victims of violent racíst mob lynchings in US history?
I didn’t read the news and I’m a news addict.good one that.forced to apologise so I didn’t really mean it.see what sort he is.kkk comment doesn’t wash with people just admit that your dictation of the story is the biggest load of lies and a child would of come up with better do the honorable thing
Hes a joke. Needs to be fired.
I agree with him, totally blown out of proportion. Witch hunt. Grow up, keep 2m, wear masks and wash hands.
Irish journalisms is on the ropes as people are not buying or subscribing to their newspapers Golf gate was a lady ditched effort to show how important their newspapers are
I didn’t know he was in the kkk.
On par with the course
Agree with him. This publication especially.
Just to re-iterate despite the language the Journal uses quarantining after travel is advisory only, no legal requirement, staying in Dublin is advisory, no legal requirement and i believe the fact the pubs and restaurants are closed is also only advisory and finally a legal challenge is being brought against this!
Open the country, people can make their own decisions and take their own risks!
@Joe:
And if the numbers catching covid-19 increase dramatically, in a scenario based on your suggestions, I suppose you’d be expecting the already over-stretched front line staff at the HSE to handle the additional fallout?
Catch yourself on, Joe!
In one sentance people are saying the same rules and law should apply to everyone but then they say a judge should be held to a higher standard of the rules because of thier job. So which is it. If the rules only apply to the plebs as people claim then why aren’t people calling for the bar owners and hotel owners and students and plumbers etc to lose thier jobs for all the stories we see every other day in the news of people breaking the rules. Why are people singling out and hounding a person simply becase of his job title. Let’s be realistic, it was a very minor breach if any at all.
Should all the people who attend house partys and street raves lose their jobs. We have all broken the rules of this kickdown at some stage. Time to move on ffs
@John Thebomb Macken: if one is an Supreme Court judge they should have to answer to people for their actions. It’s a real do as I say but not as a I do situation and the lack of remorse which is upsetting people.
@Tracy Costello: so your saying the rules should only apply depending on your job title and how much your earn.
The reaction to ‘golfgate’ was/is very understandable if a little overblown. Losing an eu commissioner was really a step too far.
Quite a large section of the public are ignoring the dangers by congregating in public and private and also by travelling around the country willy-nilly.
We need a little bit of perspective in these troubling times
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