A CO Down man has denied publishing a photograph of a judge sitting in court.
Although 33-year-old Lionel Close did not appear at Newtownards Magistrates Court, defence solicitor Patrick Higgins confirmed "it's a not guilty plea" to the single count against him.
Mr Close, from Weavers Grange in the town, is charged with publishing a photo on Facebook taken in court on May 20 "of a person, being the judge of a court, namely District Judge Mark Hamill".
Although the facts were not opened in court, the image, originally taken in September 2017 and republished in May, was still on Facebook yesterday with comments about the judge.
The brief hearing was conducted in front of Judge Hamill yesterday and he agreed with the defence suggestion "given the nature of the injured party I’m not sure if you could perhaps pass the case to Downpatrick".
Adjourning the case to November 11 at Downpatrick Magistrates, Judge Hamill told the solicitor to inform that district judge it had been transferred "at your request and suggestion, for obvious reasons".
