Arresting garda translates in court for Algerian accused of €3.5k gold necklace theft

Tom Tuite

A French-speaking Algerian man accused of stealing a valuable gold necklace on a Dublin street has been granted bail after his arresting officer stepped in to act as his translator in court.

Ishmail Benkedidah (31), of Grand Canal Park, Dublin 15, is charged with the theft of jewellery worth €3,500 from a person on D'Olier Street in the city centre.

He appeared before Judge John Hughes at Dublin District Court on Saturday.

Garda Christopher Kirwan, based at Pearse Street Garda Station, told Judge Hughes that the accused man was arrested just after 3am on Saturday.

He was held at Pearse Street station, where he was charged with the offence before being brought to court.

Garda Kirwan initially objected to bail, telling the court he feared the accused would not return to answer the charge.

He said it was believed the man was based in the Midlands and was travelling back and forth to the Dublin city centre to commit similar offences.

The garda added that he was not entirely satisfied with the address the defendant had provided.

However, when questioned by Judge Hughes, the officer said the man had no prior warrant for failing to appear.

The judge then addressed the accused, who was unrepresented due to the ongoing industrial dispute, which has seen solicitors withdraw their services from District Court legal aid cases.

The protest is in response to plans by Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan to reform the system and introduce a €520 flat fee for District Court cases.

In his interaction with the judge, Benkedidah said he could understand some English, but his first language was Arabic.

When the judge told him the garda's fears and asked if he would turn up to court, the man replied: "I will."

The judge decided that an official interpreter should be called, and the case was about to go into recess to book an Arabic translator.

However, Garda Kirwan asked Benkedidah if he spoke French, to which the man agreed.

The garda then assisted and communicated with Benkedidah in French, carefully translating the judge's questions and explaining the judge's final decision, and clarifying the terms once a ruling was made.

The court heard the accused is a construction worker who fluctuates between part-time and full-time employment and is paying around €1,000 in rent in Dublin.

Benkedidah, who has yet to enter a plea, agreed to the bail terms.

Judge Hughes granted legal aid and released him on a €500 cashless bail bond.

The man was ordered to reside at the Dublin 15 address he had provided and to sign on at his local garda station every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

The judge also imposed a curfew requiring him to remain at his residence between 10pm and 6am.

The judge also directed that a French translator be available to assist the defendant at his next hearing.

Benkedidah was ordered to appear in court again in September.