Judges' snub childish, poll finds

http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...5041&printer=1

A comment from one respondent appeared to sum up the public's broad support for the Minister.

"McDowell was absolutely right; judges are employees of the State, and like anyone else their performance needs to be managed, if McDowell wants to get tough on crime, he needs the courts to send the same message."

A total of 85 per cent agreed with Mr McDowell's description of some judges as "soft" for granting bail to 23 out of 24 members of a criminal drugs gang.

"Being arrested seems to be a business inconvenience, but criminals are almost guaranteed to be back on the streets in hours, we need to put them out of business, not just interrupt trading," said one male from Dublin.

"If nothing else I admire McDowell for taking the judges on. There is something smug and elitist about the Irish judiciary. They feel they are not accountable," another respondent said.