Trial of Irish speaker stopped

A riding instructor charged with handling stolen property, who wants to give evidence in Irish, got a High Court order prohibiting his trial continuing in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The trial of Michael O Bhleithin, of Dorset Street, Dublin, was due to begin yesterday.Mr Martin Giblin SC, and Mr Seamus O Tuathail, for Mr O Bhleithin, said they applied to Circuit Court Judge Liam Devally that a stenographer's note of Mr O Bhleithin's evidence be taken in Irish, but the court was not satisfied to do that.There was a stenographer in court. She was not able to take a note through Irish, but the State had provided a translator.Mr Giblin said Mr O Bhleithin was entitled to give his evidence in Irish and to have a stenographer who would note down that evidence in Irish. He did not wish to have his evidence translated and a note of it provided in the English language.Mrs Justice McGuinness asked if there was a stenographer who could take evidence in Irish Mr Giblin said that he could not answer that question from his own knowledge, although they had heard that there was a stenographer in the Oireachtas capable to providing such a service.Mrs Justice McGuinness said she believed Mr O Bhleithin had made out a prima facie case. She made an order prohibiting the trial from continuing until after a High Court review of the Circuit Court judge's order that Mr O Bhleithin was not entitled as a right to a stenographer who would note down his evidence in Irish.