Teacher arrested for Speaking Irish

English version below

PREAS RÁITEAS

19/07/2006

TACAÍONN NA GAEIL ÓGA LE MÁIRE NIC AN BHAIRD – CEARTA TEANGA, CEARTA DAONNA


Beidh Máire Nic an Bhaird, ball de Na Gaeil Óga i mBéal Feirste, os comhair na cúirte sa chathair Dé Céadaoin 19ú Iúil. A coir – gur labhair sí as Gaeilge leis na póilíní.

Arsa Ciarán Ó Brolcháin, Rúnaí Ghaeil Óga Bhéal Feirste, "Is seafóid amach is amach é gur gabhadh an bhean óg seo de bhrí gur labhair sí leis na péas ina teanga dhúchais.

"Cuireann an eachtra seo in iúl go soiléir go bhfuil Acht Teanga de dhíth chun cearta Gaeilgeoirí na Sé Chontaetha a chosaint ó ghéarleanúint na bhfhórsaí seicteacha agus ciníocha ar nós an PSNI."

Lean sé, "Beidh agóid ag grúpaí teanga agus eagrais eile, Na Gaeil Óga ina measc, taobh amuigh de Chúirt Chos an Lagáin ag 10r.n. Dé Céadaoin. Tá muid ag dúil go mbeidh an méid is mó daoine agus is féidir ansin ag tacú le Máire agus a seasamh in éadan leatrom bhunaíocht na Sé Chontaetha."


Dar le Seán Ó hAdhmaill, Cathaoirleach Náisiúnta Na Gaeil Óga,
"Ní hí seo an chéad Ghaeil óg a mhothaigh lámh éagothrom an stáit de bharr gur labhair sí a dteanga féin. Mar a chonaic muid sa scannán "The Wind that Shakes the Barley" a dhéanann trácht ar réidh na ndúchrónaithe, tá leatrom á dhéanamh ar Ghaeilgeoirí le fada an lá.

"Fáiltíonn muid an dul chun cinn atá déanta le Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla sna 26 Contae ach tá géarghá le cearta teanga Gaeilgeoirí a chinntiú sna 6 Contae trí Acht Gaeilge a thabhairt isteach ansin.

"Idir an dá linn, tá gá le aghaidh a thabhairt ar mheoin dhiúltacha an PSNI mar lámh den stát sna 6 Contae agus baill den Gharda Síochána. Tá géarleanúint déanta ar Ghaeil óga le déanaí ar an dá thaobh den teorann, agus éilíonn muid ar an dhá fhórsa deireadh a chur leis an chleachtas seo láithreach.

"Tá Gaeil óga an-soiléir faoi na dúshláin a bhíonn rompu in éileamh agus i gcinntiú a gcuid cearta teanga. Ní ach sampla amháin í Máire Nic an Bhaird den ghlúin óg fhéinmhuiníneach Ghaelach atá ag teacht fríd na Gaelscoileanna fud fad na tíre, agus atá toilteanach aghaidh a thabhairt ar an bhiogóideachas agus ar an chaolaigeantacht i leith na Gaeilge cibé áit a thagann siad uirthi.

"Íoróin atá ann sa chás seo sa bhrí is go bhfuil an-seans gur oscail an péas biogóideach seo na doirse i leith athruithe cuimsitheacha i gcóras dlí na Sé Chontae a chinnteodh ceartaí teanga Gaeilgeoirí amach anseo"




PRESS RELEASE


Language Rights are Human Rights:
Na Gaeil Óga Support Máire Nic an Bhaird

Máire Nic an Bhaird, a Belfast member of the Irish-language youth organisation Na Gaeil Óga and secondary school teacher is before the courts today (Wednesday, 19 Iúil 2006). Her crime - speaking to a member of the PSNI in her native language, Irish.

Ciarán Ó Brolcháin, Secretary of the Belfast branch of Na Gaeil Óga said, "It is absolutely ludicrous in today's society that a young lady can be arrested for speaking to a member of the PSNI in her native language."

"This incident, highlights the urgent need for an Irish-language Act in order to guarantee the linguistic rights of Irish-speakers, when it is plainly obvious that those intrusted to do so, the various arms of the state including a sectarian police force, are more interested in harassment.

He continues, "Na Gaeil Óga will be organising a protest outside the Laganside Courthouse. We and Máire herself have received warm messages of support from Irish-language activists, and supporters alike. The protest will be attended by various language activists, language and community organisations and her supporters.

Seán Ó hAdhmaill, National Chairperson of Na Gaeil Óga stated,
"We have been aware for some time of the negative attitude of the PSNI as an institution and of its members toward Irish-speakers. The attitude of elements within the Garda Síochána should also be challenged in their attitutde to Irish-speakers, as witnessed by the recent harassment of our members on both side of the border for assserting their rights.

"Young Irish-speakers are plainly aware of the challenges before them in asserting and guaranteeing their rights as Irish-speakers. Máire Nic an Bhaird, is but an example of the thousands of assertive young people coming through the Gaelscoileanna throughout Ireland, who are willing to confront linguistic narrowmindedness and bigotry where they come across it.

"The irony of this incident is that the overt bigotry of this member of the PSNI towards an Irish-speaker, may well have opened the door for wide-ranging reform in the northern legal system to the betterment of Irish-speakers in general."
ENDS.

Seán Ó hAdhmaill
Cathaoirleach / Chairperson
Na Gaeil Óga

6 Sráid Fhearchair
Baile Átha Cliath 1
 nagaeiloga@gmail.com
+353 857395580

Ciarán Ó Brolcháin
Rúnaí / Secretary
Gaeil Óga Bhéal Feirste
27-43 Sráid na Sceiche
Béal Feirste
BT12
 nagaeilogabf@gmail.com
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