Career criminal Sam Walker, who has more than 400,000 fans on TikTok, flicked his middle finger as he walked out of court a free man despite live streaming the proceedings. Walker was at Dublin District Court last Thursday where he owned up to four driving offences.
The courtroom drama got ramped up a notch when it emerged that the 41-year-old had live-streamed on TikTok as he was caught with about 2,500 followers tuning in.
Walker tried claiming to the Irish Mirror that it was all a “genuine mistake”, believing he hadn’t clocked the livestream was rolling as he entered court.
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But Judge Gerard Jones saw differently and said “it wasn’t accidental, it was deliberate”. Walker had first appeared at court on Mondayand was bailed until today’s appearance.
Liverpool’s own Walker had been arrested on Saturday (September 21) by Detective Paul Cummins after being found with a dodgy set of Irish and British driving licences at Aston Quay, Dublin. On top of that, he’d been driving a car with the reg “KT16 OYW” but without a licence or insurance, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Judge Jones was then informed by the Gardai about the live-stream.
Walker was hit with fines totalling €500 and a two-year driving ban by the judge for the driving offences . After a short recess, Judge Jones decided to hold Walker in contempt of court pending a hearing, leading to his arrest.
During the Contempt of Court hearing, it was revealed by the court sergeant that Walker “was live-broadcasting the event to his TikTok account”, with his phone aimed at Detective Garda Cummins as he detailed the motoring charges. The court heard that Walker boasts “in the region of 400,000 followers” on TikTok and around 2,500 people viewed the live stream.
State Witness Garda Anita Murphy confirmed she saw Walker outside using TikTok on his phone.
Garda Murphy claimed she noticed no image was visible but live comments were still rolling in. Walker, who testified as well, admitted he was live streaming outside and believed it had stopped when he entered the court.
He insisted it was a “genuine mistake” and emphasized his unawareness of being live. The court sergeant countered, pointing out his phone was aimed at the prosecuting garda.
Walker countered: “No, I can’t remember which way it was; I didn’t know it was live.”
He added: “If the officers said I did I’m not going to dispute it … it was a mistake.”
Judge Jones queried about Walker’s social media clout.
Earlier in proceedings, Walker’s solicitor Brian Keenan highlighted his client’s charitable commitments in Sierra Leone: “He was engaged in charity work and was due to travel back to the African nation.”
He also mentioned that Walker was currently paying to stay in a hotel in Dublin.
Speaking about his online presence, Walker informed Judge Jones: “I’ve been to Sierra Leone for the last six months, west Africa. I’ve installed water for 25,000 in the villages. I documented all this online.”
Mr Keenan insisted that Walker didn’t livestream to disrupt court proceedings, claiming it was unintentional and still on as he unknowingly walked into court. Yet, Judge Jones dismissed his plea, declaring, “I’m sitting here looking down at the court, and I can see with my own two eyes what was going on in this case.”
Undeterred, Judge Jones continued, “It wasn’t accidental, it was deliberate”, before stressing: “This is not a public bar, this is a court of law, we can’t have this carry on.”
Judge Jones handed Walker a one-month suspended prison term on the condition he avoids trouble for the next two years.
Speaking after proceedings to Irish Mirror/Star, Walker said: “I’m not leaving Ireland anytime soon.
“The Irish people in Dublin have treated me with nothing but respect so I want to do something for the local community before I leave which is food banks.”
Walker has a score of past convictions topping 130 offences. Most of his grown-up years were spent behind bars for an assortment of crimes from violence and firearms to drug dealing.
He’s known for notorious feuds including with ex-mobster Stephen French and footie ace Ross Barkley.
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