Deaf People's right to Irish Sign Language Access in the Judicial System.

This is not justice.

Regardless of what this defendant may or may not have done, like all citizens he should have complete access to what is going on in his trial or 'hearing' (ironic!) The Irish Government has this century paid millions of Euros to Deaf people who, as children, were abused physically, emotionally and sexually in schools in the twentieth century. That abuse was related to the same discriminatory mind-set displayed by this judge, the failure to recognise the right of D/deaf people, whether adults or children, to the same access as everybody else. Judge Paul Kelly should be at least disciplined and made to undertake corrective Deaf awareness training. This training should also be rolled out to any others in the Irish 'justice' system who do not understand this basic human right.

I have no information why this man should harrass this family and it is right he is brought to account for his actions. But to deny him access to an interpreter in a court of law -unbelievable - criminal in fact!

Everyone has a right to justice, to giving their evidence and to a fair trial. I’m signing the petition and hope the guy gets the best interpreting service he can. I’m signing the petition because his case needs to be heard and because we need to move away from the negative terms so often used to describe Deaf people (as per Harlan Lane’s paper on this topic). I’m signing the petition because there’s good grounds for needing to separate the Deaf person who is criminally bad and the Deaf person who has reacted to discrimination or is expressing frustration or has mental health issues. And I’m be signing the petition because it’s the thin edge of the wedge…. Things can be written down and someone else can tell the guy what happened because a judge said so. An unelected one at that.

Deaf people should be allowed equal access in court as hearing peers! Judge cannot fob off a "mere deaf man" like he did at the court!

Appalling lack of access. Simply inexcusable. I hope this man gets a retrial with proper interpreter support and the judge gets a reprimand for being discriminatory.

As the Mother of a deaf child it worry's me a great deal that a deaf person wasn't given a translator to Communicate. If McGrotty had been of European Natinality he would have been given access to an interpreter so as to fully understand what was going on around him in Court. The Judge took away that Right of Communication. It's Disgusting that ANY Court in ANY Land held a session in a Courtroom without the Person understanding what was being said to them, there is surely a Human Rights Law or some other such Law against this sort of behaviour. The Judge in question is not above the Law Himself so His attitude of restricting a signing interpreter in itself should be Investegated, let alone holding and Ruling in a Court Hearing where the Person in question could not fully understand nor hear what was going on or what was being said about them. Shame on the Judge!

No matter what he's accused of, he should have had an interpreter there. End of.

No interpreter means the trial was not just. How could he put his side across? Seems like a mental health issue were he needed more support, but I bet he wasn't getting adequate care either. Grrrr.

This is total discrimination and against the basic human rights to communication.

An interpreter should have been provided.

This is unacceptable in this day and age.

Have a right to have interpeter all time ,

It's deaf rights to have equal access in court

Very unfair

I went to court with my friend Fiona who was bringing charges against a man who attacked her and I was appalled at how the 'translator' was completely misinterpreting what she was saying, absolutely unacceptable! She said she ran away from him and went into Mr chippy a local takeaway to ask them to phone the guards, the interpreter said she went and had chips!! Painted a completely different picture of what happened, and apparently that's the only interpreter available for all deaf people in Donegal! Not nearly good enough!

Trial should not have gone ahead. Shameful!

His solicitor should appeal the judges decision. Ridiculous decision.

Shouldn't have allowed the trial or anything to go ahead WITHOUT an interpreter present! Happened too many times here in Donegal so it is time that it stop!

Outrageous!!! Justice ?????????