Judge questions use of interpreters in court

Judge queries use of interpreters


Judge Mary Devins last week questioned why Polish interpreters were being paid to interpret for foreign nationals who had a good level of English.
“Why, when the country is on its knees do we have to pay for a Polish interpreter,” the District Court Judge asked.
Judge Devins made the statement while dealing with two Polish men who both used interpreters, Rafal Justa and Martin Justa were both before Claremorris District Court on a number of driving offences last week.
“How long have you been in this county,” Judge Devins asked the defendant Martin Justa directly, without the use of the interpreter, who replied that he had been in the country for seven years. “So you have been in this country for seven years and you haven’t learned at least one of our languages,” Judge Devin said.