Máire Nic an Bhaird, secondary school teacher and Irish language activist from Dunmurry, County Antrim in Northern Ireland, was acquitted last month following lengthy proceedings brought by the PSNI after an exchange between her and PSNI officers in which she used the Irish language.
Máire was initially fined by a lower (magistrates) court in February 2007 following a conviction for alleged disorderly behaviour but the charge was thrown out by the appeal court in September 2007.
The case, which followed an incident in May 2006 in West Belfast became something of a 'cause célèbre' for Irish language groups and nationalists. It also prompted action by the Celtic League which included correspondence by the Leagues General Secretary to British judicial authorities in the North. The issue was also publicised by the League in its quarterly journal CARN and through its internet 'Celtic News' pages.
Whilst the outcome of this case is welcome deep-seated issues relating to attitudes within the PSNI and judicial system in the North towards the Irish language remain unresolved.
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J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
20/10/07
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