Barrister who headbutted creche manager appeals conviction

A barrister who headbutted the director of a creche has been granted leave to add an additional ground for his appeal against conviction.

Michael Waters (44), with an address at Ava Avenue, Belfast, had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Marian Wallace at the Busy Bees Creche, Lower Kilmacud Road, Stillorgan, in January 2012.

He was found guilty by a majority jury verdict and was given a three year suspended sentence by Judge Patricia Ryan on July 2nd, 2013.

Waters has lodged an appeal against conviction and brought a motion before the Court of Appeal on Tuesday to add additional grounds of appeal.

Ruling on the motion, Mr Justice John Edwards said the court was not disposed to allow nine of the proposed grounds but would allow the single ground of alleged failure by the prosecuting authorities to disclose a statement of the complainant to the defence.

Mr Justice Edwards said the court was not disposed to allow grounds to be argued in relation to proceedings which were not the subject matter of the appeal. The degree of connection was not sufficient to justify the reliefs being sought, he said.

Furthermore, the court was not disposed to release transcripts of any proceedings not the subject of the present appeal, Mr Justice Edwards said.

Waters had represented himself for the motion.