Man jailed in Derry... for answering his phone in court

Paddy Sweeney was also handed a fine by the irritated judge.

LETTING YOUR MOBILE ring in a courtroom is rarely a good idea. Taking the call is worse.

A man was handed a brief jail sentence in a Derry court today after his phone rang, the judge told him to turn it off – but instead he took the call and had a brief chat.

The judge ordered 36-year-old Paddy Sweeney behind bars for two hours, then fined him £200 for wilfully interrupting the court. Sweeney had been watching a civil trial at the time.

Sweeney could have faced a maximum penalty of one month in jail and a £2,500 fine.

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Associated Foreign Press

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