This is the scene one day in an Irish courthouse, during a murder case.
The judge says to a double-homicide defendant, “Sean O’Flaherty, you are charged with beating your wife to death with a hammer.”
Suddenly, a voice at the back of the courtroom yells out, “You bastard!”
The judge, although rather taken aback by this outburst, continues…
“You are also charged with beating your mother-in-law to death with a hammer.”
The voice in the back of the courtroom yells out again, “You rotten bastard!”
The judge stops, and says to Paddy who is in the back of the courtroom.
“Sir, I can understand your anger and frustration at these crimes, but no more outbursts from you, or I will charge you with contempt of court. Is that understood?”
Paddy stands up and says, “I’m sorry, Your Honour, but for fifteen years I’ve lived next door to that man, and every time I asked to borrow a hammer, he said he didn’t have one.”
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