Court's recording sought by solicitor for Laois woman in butt lift case
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A SOLICITOR applied at Portlaoise District Court for a copy of the court’s recording in a case involving a woman whose free legal aid had been revoked after hearing she had been abroad and recovering from cosmetic surgery that included liposuction, a tummy tuck and a butt lift.
Solicitor Robert Murphy applied to Judge Andrew Cody for a copy of the DAR (Digital Audio Recording) relating to that case that involved a woman who had been due before the court on 20 July.
Victoria McDonagh (32), Riverside, Portarlington was due before that court sitting for the alleged theft of a €200 supersonic hairdryer from Fletcher's Hardware on Link Road, Portarlington on 2 January last year.
At that July sitting, Judge Cody noted that the defendant’s solicitor, Aonghus McCarthy, had successfully applied for a free legal aid certificate on behalf of his client, but that she was not present in court and the reason given for her absence was that she was still recovering from cosmetic surgery.
The judge said that Ms McDonagh had undergone cosmetic surgery abroad, including liposuction, a tummy tuck and a butt lift.
He subsequently revoked the free legal aid certificate that had been granted and adjourned Ms McDonagh’s case to 17 September at Portlaoise District Court.
Last week, Mr Murphy sought a copy of the recording of the July case.
Judge Cody told Mr Murphy: “You were in court on 20 July and you left before the case was called,” to which Mr Murphy replied: “I was outside (the courtroom). The only time I appeared (before Judge Cody) was in a private case. She (Ms McDonagh) wasn’t here to represent herself. She was in hospital at the time. She should be given the opportunity to ascertain what went on that day.” Judge Cody said: “She was legally aided since 2025. Mr McCarthy was on legal aid and was paid to be here.” Mr Murphy said that solicitors had withdrawn from the free legal aid scheme at the time in a dispute over the introduction by the Department of Justice of a new payment scheme for legal aid.
Judge Cody said that Ms McDonagh is due back before the court on 19 September and that he would deal with Mr Murphy’s application for a copy of the DAR at that sitting.
*There are two types of recording systems in Irish courthouses. The Digital Audio Recording records all cases while the court sits, while the Ambient Digital Audio Recording system records continuously, whether courts are in session or not.
