Philip Cattan was the recorder at Manchester Crown Court (Picture: Google/St John’s Building)
A judge has been accused of falling asleep during the testimony of a young witness, causing the collapse of a rape and sexual assault case.Recorder Philip Cattan, 65, is said to have dropped off while the alleged child abuse victim was giving evidence via video link on the first day of the trial of John Quigley, 49, at Manchester Crown Court.After the incident, the experienced judge discharged the jury and ordered a retrial – at an estimated cost to the taxpayer of £10,000.A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service said: ‘The jury has been discharged in the trial of R v John Quigley at Manchester Crown Court following an issue that arose in court during the cross examination of the first complainant in the case.‘The trial will be re-listed as soon as possible.
The complainants and other witnesses have been kept informed.’It has been reported that the family of the alleged victim who was giving evidence at the time were aware Recorder Cattan had apparently fallen asleep.The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office, the body responsible for disciplining judges for improper conduct, confirmed a complaint had been made and an investigation is underway.Mr Quigley, of Avon Road, Burnage, denies 10 sexual offences against children including rape and sexual assault.
