Mr Justice Paul Carney told a jury panel he believed a man who had now pleaded guilty had played "ducks and drakes" with the court.
The guilty plea came just before a jury was to be selected and sworn in for his trial.
The defendant has been remanded in custody at the Central Criminal Court for a violent sexual assault on a woman in Galway almost two years ago.
Edward Casey (43), O'Malley Park, Limerick, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault and assault causing harm to the woman in the Loch a' tSáile area of Galway on September 30th, 2004.
Mr Justice Carney certified Casey for registration as a sex offender and directed the preparation of a victim impact report.
Feargal Kavanagh SC, defending, requested reports on Casey who he said was serving a sentence in Limerick Prison. Casey's guilty plea came before a jury was sworn in for his trial.
Mr Justice Carney told the jury panel that, in his dealings with criminal matters for 40 years with 15 of those as a High Court judge, he knew when someone "was playing ducks and drakes with the court".
However, the last time he forced such a person to face up to their obligations, the Court of Criminal Appeal ruled he had breached that person's human rights.
"This man has tried to play ducks and drakes in a manner which you wouldn't have been aware of and, in dealing firmly with him, it has produced a plea of guilty, but I cannot rule out that I might be found again to have breached his European human rights," he said.
"When it comes to sentencing this man, I'm not going to take account of the games he played with the court," Mr Justice Carney added.