Pattwell: 'We've lost control of our borders'
Thursday July 30 2009
JUDGE Michael Pattwell has spoken out against the Lisbon Treaty, saying he believed its implementation would further undermine Ireland's ability to control its own borders.
The judge made his comments during the trial of an unemployed 23-year-old Polish national at Fermoy District Court last Friday on five separate counts of theft.
Thomas Chlebda, 3 Ballydaheen West, Mallow, was already serving a threemonth jail term for theft imposed on him at a special sitting of the court on the previous Monday.
Chlebda was convicted on each of the five new theft charges, and sentenced to an additional five months in prison, one month for each charge.
Speaking in court Judge Pattwell said the case clearly showed that "something needs to be done" to prevent foreign criminals from entering the state.
"I will tell you why I would vote against the Lisbon Treaty and indeed the EU generally, in spite of the advantages it has brought to us. My problem is that we have already lost control of our borders," said the judge.
"We should have the power to say no to thieves, drug dealers and troublemakers who want to enter the country," he added. However, the judge said there was a case for allowing those who he described as being "hardworking and decent" people into the country.
- BILL BROWNE
