BELFAST

THE TRIAL OF Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, former leader of the Northern Ireland Democratic Unionist Party, who faces historic sex offence charges, could be held in the Irish language now that a 300 year old law banning its use in court in those parts of Ireland still under British control, has been repealed.

“Yes, the language of the vast majority of the people of the island was banned in the island’s courts from 1737,” explained Professor Hugh Massrock, an expert in ongoing sectarian prejudice in the United Kingdom at the Crocodile Foundation, a European Union-funded think tank. “To help facilitate speedy justice. People who did not understand the language of their court were easier to hang. When 26 counties of Ireland broke free of British rule a century ago, Irish was allowed again in the courts there – though ironically most of the population now spoke English – but the ban on its use continued in Northern Ireland, which remained part of the United Kingdom. Right up until now. Yes, hard to believe, I know. The native language of half the population actually banned in the courts.

“Now that its use is permitted, trials such as Sir Jeffrey’s might actually benefit from being held in Irish as that would obviously limit the number of people who would know what was being said in court. That, in turn, would help protect members of the party he so recently led from having to listen to the allegations being made against the man whom they championed for so long.”

Donaldson’s trial has recently been delayed due to difficulties with his wife, who is said to be currently unfit to stand trial on the related charges she faces.

“All the more reason to hold the trial in Irish,” insisted Professor Massrock. “To further protect the vulnerable. To paraphrase a well-known slogan: their day has come.”

Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein is said to be willing to provide former IRA prisoners as translators for any trial held in Irish. The party has even offered free lessons for anyone from the Democratic Unionist Party who might want to listen to evidence first-hand, should the trial be conducted in the Irish language.