A fracas requiring the intervention of gardaí and security erupted in the Four Courts today when it is claimed the defendant in a defamation action was attacked and injured by a group of individuals who attended court.
The individuals involved had attended an action brought by a London-based Nigerian businesswoman Rosala Uvbi Mku-Atu who claims she has been defamed and allegedly threatened in social media posts by Irish-based Ms Ester Esabod Aboderin with an address at Leixlip, Co Kildare.
Shortly before the case was due to be heard by Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds, a fracas involving up to 20 individuals who had attended the case broke out in the area just outside the Supreme Court.
Court staff called for the assistance of the gardaí, who attended at the scene within minutes.
After order was restored, a Garda on duty, supported by the Court Services staff, escorted several individuals involved in the incident from the Four Court's complex.
The individuals had earlier been present in Court 3 of the Four Courts where the case was due to be mentioned. They were asked to leave by Judge Leonie Reynolds after some of them became loud and agitated.
When the case was called, Rory Kennedy Bl, for Ester Esabod Aboderin, told the Judge that his client had been "seriously assaulted," by unknown parties and had suffered injuries including "cuts and bruises" to her face and body in the incident.
A complaint has been made to the Gardaí about the assault, counsel said.
In reply, Patrick O'Brien Bl for Ms Uvbi Mku-Atu, who was not in court, said his client had "no knowledge" about the people who were involved in the incident outside the courtroom, and "did not condone" what had occurred.
Some of the posts call on Ms Esabod Aboderin's online supporters to attack Ms Uvbi Mku-Atu.