A garda slouches on the bench beside me as the registrar rattles through the morning list in District Court 2 of the Criminal Courts of Justice at Parkgate Street in Dublin. The pace is brisk. A blonde woman wearing Spanx leggings and burgundy loafers is fined and gets a three-month suspended sentence for criminal damage to a property. A friend bundles her a wad of notes – €500 euro to help compensate the injured party.  At the front of the court sit five solicitors while off to the side a male barrister wearing a gown and a respirator mask is…

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