Madam, - The Irish Translators' and Interpreters' Association (ITIA) would like to thank your Legal Affair Correspondent, Carol Coulter, for drawing attention to the case of Mr Anar Odon who spent over a year in Cloverhill Prison due to a most unfortunate set of circumstances (The Irish Times, March 4th).
We are appalled that an untrained, inexperienced person acquainted with Mr Odon was apparently roped in to interpret for him. (An interpreter interprets what is said, a translator translates written material.) However, we are not surprised at such an occurrence. The case merely confirms our worst fears.
This is because we believe that even if an interpreter had been called, for example through an agency, there would have been no guarantee of a competent standard of interpreting. Why? Because interpreting in Ireland is totally unregulated. Literally anyone who claims to speak English and another language can work as an interpreter.
An ability to speak two languages does not always equate with an ability to interpret. Untrained interpreters tend to omit, alter and add information. Accurate interpretation is essential in a legal setting.
As Carol Coulter points out, the fact that audio/video recordings are not always made in Garda stations means it is impossible to verify the quality of the interpreting carried out. Recordings are not made in court either. As a result it is practically impossible to prove that poor interpreting has affected a case. Indeed, it would be possible for an interpreter to advise a defendant not to say certain things that could jeopardise his case without anyone being any the wiser.
It is clear that the 1987 Treatment of Persons in Custody Regulations need to be updated to include guidelines on how to locate and work with interpreters.
Unfortunately, these measures alone will be useless if interpreters cannot avail of training in interpreting techniques, ethical issues and terminology.
There is an urgent need for training courses for interpreters but this need has been consistently ignored by the Garda, the Courts Service and the Department of Justice.
They fulfil the letter of the law by providing interpreters but they certainly do not fulfil the spirit of the law when they allow untrained interpreters to work in a legal setting.
It is time they put their house in order. - Yours, etc.,
MARY PHELAN, PRO, Irish Translators' and Interpreters' Association, Parnell Square, Dublin 1.