A Munster Circuit Court judge who is facing a charge of possessing child pornography could be issued with a warrant for his arrest if he does not turn up for a court hearing in June.
The warning came after Circuit Court Judge Brian Curtin failed to appear at Tralee District Court today.
His solicitor, Mr Robert Pierse, told the court that his client was not in court because he was not fit to attend - the same reason given when he failed to attend an earlier hearing in January.
District Court Judge Humphrey Kelleher said Judge Curtin will be issued with a bench warrant if he does not attend the Co Kerry court on June 11th.
Judge Curtin was charged under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act following inquiries by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Judge Curtin, a former barrister who practised in Munster, was appointed a Circuit Court judge in autumn 2001 but has not heard any cases since last May.