Justice Inverted?

There's a very strange story today in the English press, from Blackburn, my old stomping ground. Apparently, a couple of sixteen year old youths, with nothing better to do, made their way into Blackburn Cathedral where they proceeded to deface hymnals and prayer books with anti-Semitic words and symbols, and to desecrate a cross. They did about $4,500 of damage. They were caught, which is hardly surprising given that they had written their real names in the visitor's book. Shortly thereafter the boys were taken before the local magistrate, a certain Mr. Austin Molloy JP, who berated them for their behavior. He sentenced one boy to an 18 month supervision order, and to pay the equivalent of $2,200 (at ten pounds or fourteen dollars per week). The other boy got a twelve month supervision order and a fine of $145. “This court is disgusted by the mindless destruction you have caused," the magistrate said. "Normal people would consider you absolute scum. If it was in our power, we would have you both stand in front of the congregation at 10am on Sunday and explain your words and actions to them to see if they could understand it, because we can’t.”

This is where it becomes interesting. The court recorder, Christine Dean, interrupted proceedings at this point to accuse the magistrate of inappropriate language. A complaint was made that Mr. Molloy had no business describing the young men as "scum" and that he ought to apologize. Now, an enquiry is being held into the magistrate's behavior. The case could go as far as the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice. Mr. Molloy could be dismissed from the bench. It seems likely that, at the very least, he will be told to moderate his language or face disciplinary action. The odd thing is that a father of one of the youths has come out in support of the magistrate. The overwhelming response in the local press has been in favor of harsher penalties and in support of Molloy. But, still, he faces an enquiry.
How strange, that the judge should end up being judged! The original offense seems to have been forgotten in the rush to be politically correct. And the emperor has no clothes.
Now, while admitting that Mr. Molloy was less than judicious in his choice of words, he clearly should have the right to express the revulsion he feels at the behavior of the young men. Whether or not he should have done this from the bench is really beside the point. If the law, and its representatives, cannot denounce evil, who can? Maybe God? Perhaps we shall end up putting Him in the dock, too!


In this photograph, from the Lancashire Telegraph, the cathedral's head verger, Mark Pickering, looks at the statue of Jesus and John the Baptist that was damaged.