Barrister’s language skills made use of in Portlaoise District Court

A BARRISTER assisted in court proceedings last week when he volunteered to interpret in the Yoruba language for a Kildare resident who was before it on driving offences.

Clearly confused with what was being said to him, the defendant was before the court charged with driving without insurance and without a driving licence on 12 June at Ballydavis, Portlaoise. 

Addressing the accused, John Osemuvengie from 425 Moone, Kildare, Judge Susan Fay enquired whether he had legal representation and how he intending to plea to the charges. 

The defendant looked on and said he was unable to understand, saying he was from a region in Nigeria. 

It was at this stage that barrister David Nugent assisted the court, by conversing with Mr Osemuvengie and found his language to be either Yoruba or Yom. 

“It’s from the Benin region,” said Mr Nugent. “There’s 164 dialects in that region and I can speak a bit of the language.”

 Judge Fay asked Mr Nugent if he could assist the defendant in what was going on in the court. 

When they returned after a while Mr Nugent said: “We had a long conversation.” 

As the case was about to proceed Judge Fay was informed that the prosecuting Garda, John O’Keeffe, was not present in court and that the court presenter Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby had received no paperwork from the garda to present to the court. 

Mr Nugent said: “With no evidence before the court, I ask that you strike out the case.” 

Agreeing to Mr Nugent’s request, Judge Fay struck out the case informing Sgt Kirby, “You can come again,” and granted free legal aid to Mr Nugent’s instructing solicitor Barry Fitzgerald. 

***Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme***