This article is from page 14 of the 2006-10-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
A LITHUANIAN man has been told by a judge if he has difficulty understanding in court, he can arrange his own interpreter as the State will not incur any interpretation costs.
Judge Joseph Mangan made the comments in the case of Thomas Salaka, who appeared before Kilrush District Court last Wednesday on public order charges.
Mr Salaka (25), of Orchard Lane, Ennis, was accused of been intoxicated in public and of engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, at Henry Street, Kilrush, on August 27 last.
The accused, a chef, pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour and the other charge was withdrawn.
The court heard that as the accused’s friend was been arrested for drunken driving, the accused, who was a passenger in the car, got out and acted in a threatening manner to the garda, waving his fists. He later apologised.
“He was using his own language. I don’t know what it was,” said the garda.
Judge Mangan asked did the accused intend to stay in Ireland and was told that he has lived here for the past two years and planned to stay here.
The accused’s partner was sworn in for another case in court and she translated proceedings for Mr Salaka.
The judge adjourned the case until November and said, “The State is not to incur any interpretation costs. If he has a problem with understanding, he can bring his own interpreter.”
The accused’s solicitor Gearoid Williams said, “Under the Convention of Human Rights, it is an obligation on the State . . . In any case he will bring his own interpreter.”
The judge said if the accused had paid for an interpreter, he would take that into account in imposing any monetary fine. Mr Williams replied, “The interpreter is the mother of his child.”
A spokesman for the Courts Service said €2 million was been spent on providing interpreters for court, in 210 dialects, this year. This is a 15-fold increase since 2000. This is a national figure and figures for Clare were not available, he said.
He said the provision of interpreters for court cases was “daily routine,” but that any decision regarding allocating interpreters to cases rested with judges.
“The judge runs the court. It is up to the judge to certify if an interpreter is needed. If an interpreter is needed, the Courts Service provides it and covers the cost of this. It is a matter for the judge to decide,” he added.