*/
    private synchronized boolean removeOldMessages() {
        long currentTime = new Date().getTime();
        boolean result = false;

        int i = 0;
        while (i < getMessageCount()) {
            long messageCreationTime = getMessage(i).getCreationTime().getTime();
            if ((currentTime - messageCreationTime) >= MESSAGE_AGE) {
                result = true;
                messages.remove(i);
            } else {
                i++;
            }
        }

        return result;
    }