Anti-vaccine activist, Antonio Mureddu has told a judge that he is now transgender and should be addressed ‘Kunta Kinte’, the name of a fictional slave from the best-selling novel, ‘Roots’.
At Ennis District Court, Mr Mureddu (47) told Judge Alec Gabbett “I am not Mr Mureddu judge.”
He said: “I am a LGBT member. I am transgender also."
Mr Mureddu has appeared a number of times in person and via video-link in court while on remand in custody and continues to deny that he is Mr Mureddu.
Judge Gabbett said that this is the first time that Mr Mureddu has introduced the transgender issue.
The judge said: “I have carefully considered the documentation that you have sent me and I have carefully considered the paperwork that I have been given by the Gardai - I am satisfied that you are Mr Moreddu."
He added: “This has to be moved on to be dealt with in the circuit court. I am noting your points that you don’t recognise the court and I am noting you are effectively telling the court that you are not Mr Moreddu.”
Appearing in court from prison via a video-link Mr Mureddu replied: “I am not Mr Mureddu judge.”
In reply, Judge Gabbett said: “I know - you keep saying that - I have considered your paperwork and as far I am concerned you are Mr Moreddu and you have charges to answer in the circuit court.”
In reply, Mr Mureddu said: “You are not accepting the fact that I am transgender?
In reply, Judge Gabbett said: “I never said that.”
In response, Mr Mureddu said: “Are you saying I don’t have the right to say I am transgender?”
Judge Gabbett said that this is the first time that “you have raised this issue with the court”.
Mr Mureddu said: "Maybe the Garda Siochana don’t like me because I am transgender. We can bring this matter to the High Court to decide if I have the right to be transgender."
In reply, Judge Gabbett said: "Sir, how would you like me to address you from now on? You need to tell me what you would like to be called.”
Judge Gabbett said: “You are claiming now that you are a transgender person - you can be whatever you wish to be. I just need to know what you would like me to call you.”
Mr Mureddu told Judge Gabbett “you can call me Kunta Kinte, and it is a movie where this black guy was being hit by an officer with the stick, and he was being beaten up asking him his name”.
Kunta Kinte is a fictional character from a 1976 novel, Roots by American author, Alex Haley and has featured in two TV adaptations of the novel.
In reply, Judge Gabbett said: "I am going to continue calling you ‘Sir' for the time being.”
Mr Mureddu is charged with an alleged assault of Garda James Hanley with intent to resist or prevent the lawful apprehension or detention of himself for an alleged offence, dangerous driving at Knockanean outside Ennis on August 10th 2021.
State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey told the court that the trial is listed for July 9th at Ennis Circuit Court and that two dangerous driving charges are to be added to the circuit court indictment at a later date.
Mr Mureddu has been on remand in custody since March 13th.
