Do not mess with Judge Patricia Lynch QC
A top judge left a courtroom stunned yesterday, after calling a defendant a “c**t” during sentencing.
Judge Patricia Lynch QC made her shocking comment while sentencing 50-year-old John Hennigan for breaching his anti-social behaviour order (ASBO).
Mid way through Lynch’s sentencing remarks, Hennigan — who has 23 convictions to his name — told her she was “a bit of a c**t”.
Without missing a beat, Lynch, who became a circuit judge 2014, responded:
You are a bit of a c*** yourself. Being offensive to me doesn’t help.
Hennigan then responded:
Go f*** yourself.
Remaining cool, calm and collected, Lynch, who is a former member of London’s Red Lion Chambers, retorted:
You too.
According to the Mirror, Hennigan was in court for breaching his order after “insulting a black Caribbean mother”. Jailing him for 18 months at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday, the sassy judge said:
Your offence is thoroughly unpleasant and repeated breaches of this order using the most unpleasant of language and causing distress. It’s said custody would be distressing for you but it seems you never learn. This is the ninth time you have breached this order, the same offensive, racist comments and you don’t deserve another chance.
Judge Patricia Lynch QC 1 — Defendant 0.