Ireland: Man pleads not guilty to publishing photo of Newtownards judge

To US readers this may seem somewhat of an odd story..

A man has pleaded not guilty to a charge of publishing a photograph of Judge Mark Hamill sitting in court.

The case came before Judge Hamill in Newtownards Magistrates Court yesterday, who agreed to transfer the case to Downpatrick “for obvious reasons”.

The prosecution alleges that Lionel Close, 33, published a photo on Facebook in May this year of Judge Hamill sitting in court.

A not guilty plea was entered on behalf of Mr Close by his defence solicitor Patrick Higgins, The Irish News reports.

The case will return to Downpatrick Magistrates Court on Thursday 11 November.

Source:  https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/man-pleads-not-guilty-to-publishing-photo-of-newtownards-judge