HIGH COURT RESERVE JUDGEMENT ON DEAF GALWAY WOMAN’S LANDMARK CASE

Date Published: 06-Jun-2008

The High Court has reserved judgement on a deaf Galway womans legal battle challenging her exclusion from jury service on grounds of her deafness.

Joan Clarke of Athenry Road Loughrea says she should not be deemed ineligible for jury service merely because she is deaf.

Joan Clarke has claimed that excluding her from a jury is discriminatory and in breach of the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003.

She told the High Court she wants to perform “this important civic duty” on the same basis as everyone else and was frustrated at not being allowed to when she was summoned for jury service before Galway Circuit Court in April 2006.

She was excused from serving, apparently on grounds of her deafness.

Joan Clarke is contending she’s entitled to be facilitated to serve on a jury by means of a sign language interpreter.

In opposing the action, the State denies her claims and says Ms Clarke is ineligible for jury service due to the “permanent infirmity of deafness”

The state claims she is not entitled to have appropriate arrangements made to accommodate her deafness and enable her serve as a juror.