‘We shouldn’t still be fighting for the right to speak Irish’: Grandmother wins Ombudsman ruling against PSNI

A police officer who arrested a west Belfast grandmother at a pro-Palestinian protest will face disciplinary action after failing to arrange translation services when she spoke in Irish.

The Police Ombudsman found the officer’s behaviour “likely fell short of expectations set out for officers in the PSNI Code of Ethics” when dealing with Máire Mhic an Fhailí (74) at a demonstration in Belfast city centre on August 9, 2025.

Ms Mhic an Fhailí, from Poleglass, was arrested under terrorism legislation for wearing a “We are all Palestine Action” t-shirt after she provided her details in Irish to police.

The Ombudsman investigation found that while officers requested her details in English multiple times, “police made no efforts to translate these details.”

When asked during interview why officers never considered using a translation service, the officer said it was “not appropriate due to the on-going protest.”

The PSNI has accepted the Ombudsman’s recommendation that the officer be subject to performance procedures.

The Ombudsman has also submitted a policy recommendation to the PSNI on how officers deal with members of the public who speak Irish, taking into consideration the Irish language act.

Kevin Winters of KRW Law, who represented Ms Mhic an Fhailí, said the decision “puts a marker down” for PSNI acceptance and respect for the Irish language.

“Máire’s complaint on police failure to properly engage with her when she spoke in Irish was disrespectful and demeaning,” he said.

“It set a wrong tone which clearly impacted on PSNI operational decision making. This decision puts a marker down for PSNI acceptance and respect for the Irish language. We ought never again to witness such an unacceptable policing response to a citizens absolute entitlement to speak in Irish.”

Ms Mhic an Fhailí told The Irish News she hoped the ruling would lead to greater respect for the language within policing.

“To me, it’s a good thing that it was upheld, but it’s not something that should have to be done in the first place,” she said.

“We shouldn’t still be fighting for the right to give any details in Irish. That should be a given now. We shouldn’t be at the point where we’re still having to go to the ombudsman and wait on the ombudsman to decide whether the police are in the right or the wrong.”

During the August protest, Ms Mhic an Fhailí was initially detained by police before being arrested under Article 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and taken to Belfast’s Musgrave police station.

The arrest came after the British government made expressing support for, or being a member of, Palestine Action a criminal offence under terrorism legislation.

Ms Mhic an Fhailí had complained that she believed police only arrested her because she spoke Irish, noting that another protester wearing the same t-shirt who gave his details in English was given a caution and released.

However, the Ombudsman found no evidence that she was treated differently than others because she spoke Irish, stating she was ‘provided with the same opportunities that police offered to other members of the public to avoid the necessity for arrest.

The investigation also found no misconduct regarding her other complaints that an older officer escalated the situation because she spoke Irish, that wrong legislation was used for her arrest, or that police failed to consider potential disabilities.

The Ombudsman concluded that wearing a t-shirt displaying “We are all Palestine Action” provided officers with “reasonable suspicion” that she was a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation, and that Article 13 of the Terrorism Act was the appropriate legislation.

Chief Superintendent Stephen Murray, Head of the PSNI’s Professional Standards Department, said: “The Police Service of Northern Ireland has received the Police Ombudsman’s report.

“We are currently reviewing the content and any appropriate operational learning opportunities will be taken to help improve policing going forward.”