an open letter to Judge Eamon De Valera

Dear Judge Eamon De Valera.
It has come to my attention that you have recently presided over a court case in which something called Monica Leech was awarded 1.87 million smackers in a libel trial against Independent Newspapers.
I am no friend of Independent Newspapers.
But I have a passing affection for the freedoms, culture, principles, faith and traditions of the nation of Ireland, all of which I believe are now imperilled by this crass and invidious award.
Monica Leech claimed in court that an article in The Evening Herald could be interpreted as implying she had an affair with Fianna Fail Environment Minister Martin Cullen.
Well, duhhhhhh.
A majority of the Jury in your courtroom agreed with her and ordered that Independent Newspapers should be held liable for the above mentioned ridiculous amount of money.
We do not know how many members of the Jury dissented from the majority verdict.
Nor do we know how many members of the Jury are in the habit of voting for Fianna Fail at election time.
However we do know that you Judge De Valera issued an instruction in court that only members of the Jury who voted in favour of the award should have a say in deciding how large that award should be.
Can this be right Judge De Valera?
I mean as a point of law.
One more thing.
I want to protest to you personally as a citizen of this country about the outcome of this case and about the manner in which you directed the Jury.
I just want you to know how I feel Judge De Valera.
Something about this whole trial bothers me.
I consider Independent Newspapers to be scumbags.
But what you've done here is an attack on freedom of expression.
No I'm wrong.
It's worse than that.
It's an attack upon the right to state the bleedin obvious.
Tell me Judge De Valera.
Are you a relation of the Eamon De Valera who founded the Fianna Fail party?
If you Judge Eamon De Valera are a relation of the Eamon De Valera who founded the Fianna Fail party, how on earth could you have allowed yourself to preside over a case in which a woman like Monica Leech was claiming to have been libelled by a suggestion she had been having an affair with Fianna Fail Minister Martin Cullen?
How.
Dare.
You.
Judge.
Eamon.
De.
Valera.
Surely Judge Eamon De Valera if you are in fact a direct desecendent of the Eamon De Valera who founded the Fianna Fail party, surely you had a duty to recuse yourself from that courtroom?
Cancel the award to Leech, Judge De Valera.
Resign from the bench Judge De Valera.
Hang your head in shame Judge De Valera.
Fond regards.
James Healy