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From the Belfast News Letter. Double standards or what?

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/local/ ... _1_2452749

Judge allowed to keep his job

Published on Sat Feb 26 10:00:00 GMT 2011

A JUDGE convicted of drink driving will not lose his job, it has been revealed.

Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan yesterday accepted the ruling of a tribunal, who decided that Charles Redpath, a Master of the High Court, should not be removed from judicial office.

On October 22 last year, Redpath was stopped in Bangor and found to be over the limit. On January 19 this year, at Newtownards Magistrates’ court, he pleaded guilty and was convicted of the offence of driving with excess alcohol.

At the request of the Lord Chief Justice, Redpath has not sat since the offence was committed.

The Lord Chief Justice said he regards the conviction of any serving member of the judiciary to be a very serious matter.

“I expect members of the judiciary to maintain high standards of behaviour at all times,” he said. “This is essential if the judiciary are to retain the confidence of the community. Master Redpath has made a grave error of judgment which he recognises. The tribunal, however, has heard all the evidence in this case and presented me with its findings. I accept its recommendation.”

He will now consider disciplining Redpath with a short removal from office

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Anyone who tells you that nothing is impossible has never bathed in a saucer of water.

One can only hope that there was an exceptional circumstance that they felt somehow (!!) excused this shameful behaviour, but it is alarming.
Can you find out more and contact the Court - it all becomes public record after a while when all the paperwork is done ... ?
It would be interesting to know more about the whole situation.

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Safe Speed for Intelligent Road Safety through proper research, experience & guidance.

More detail in this report from the Belfast Telegraph

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/ ... 96568.html

Drink-drive judge will stay in job

A judge caught drink-driving will not lose his job, it has been announced.
Northern Ireland's Lord Chief Justice has decided that Charles Redpath, a Master of the High Court, should not be removed from judicial office.

Sir Declan Morgan backed the recommendation of a specially convened tribunal which assessed whether the offence justified being sacked.

Last month Master Redpath pleaded guilty at Newtownards Magistrates' Court to driving with excess alcohol and was fined £120 and disqualified from getting behind the wheel for 12 months.

He had failed a police breath test in Bangor, Co Down, in October last year.

At the request of Sir Declan, the judge has not presided over any cases since he committed the offence.

While the tribunal, which sat earlier this month, held that the conviction constituted misbehaviour, it decided, having reviewed the evidence and testimonials for the judge, not to recommend that Master Redpath lose his job.

Sir Declan said he accepted the finding and would now consider an alternative disciplinary sanction.

He said: "I expect members of the judiciary to maintain high standards of behaviour at all times. This is essential if the judiciary are to retain the confidence of the community.

"Master Redpath has made a grave error of judgment which he recognises. The tribunal, however, has heard all the evidence in this case and presented me with its findings. I accept its recommendation."

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Anyone who tells you that nothing is impossible has never bathed in a saucer of water.