TEACHER, JOHN IRISH, DID NOT FLINCH WHEN CRIMES WERE RECOUNTED
- April 23, 2019
John Irish did not flinch when his sickening crimes were recounted in court. Sat without expression during the 75-minute court hearing on Wednesday, the disgraced teacher was flanked by two plain clothed police officers in the dock. During an earlier hearing at Teesside Magistrates’ Court, Irish was unusually brought up to face magistrates through the cells – again accompanied by police. That treatment is usually reserved for those in custody, but on that occasion, the 25-year-old had actually arrived on bail.
It was indicated that Irish would plead guilty, but no charges were read out in court and he was given unconditional bail until his next appearance at court, six weeks later. He spoke then only to confirm his name and date of birth.
At that very brief hearing, Irish’s solicitor John Relton applied to magistrates for a court order banning publication of his address. The court heard on that occasion there was a very real danger to Irish’s life, a claim backed by Cleveland Police.
At the conclusion of the case, Irish was quickly taken out of the back door of the court building and into a car instead of facing the media outside like other alleged criminals. At Teesside Crown Court on Wednesday, the court landing was again packed with uniformed and plain clothes officers. And when a false alarm saw the court evacuated during the case, Irish was encircled by plain clothed police officers as he stood outside.
Dressed in a white shirt, black tie and black trousers, Irish stared blankly as Judge Stephen Ashurst recounted his disgusting crimes back to him. When he was sentenced to five years in prison, Irish didn’t blink as he was led down to the cells.
Six guilty pleas – for making and possessing indecent images of children, and for possessing extreme pornography – had been logged with the court ahead of the hearing, and Irish received a discount on his sentence, as is usual.