PSNI officers being trained to give talks in Irish

May 20 2009 05:17 AM

Irish-speaking PSNI officers are currently in training to deliver programmes in Irish schools, it emerged at the first meeting of the Policing Board to use the Irish language last night.

Speaking in answer to questions at the historic event, Assistant Chief Constable Judith Gillespie said she did not envissage the Irish word for police — poilineacht — featuring on the side of PSNI jeeps.

Addressing the packed gathering at the City Hotel in Derry, she described the meeting as a “very important first step”.

“I think its important we learn to toddle before we run on this,” she said.

“I do think there are elements of this community that would not be entirely comfortable with what we are proposing and we want to ensure that by engaging one community we are not disengaging another.”

Earlier PSNI constables Una McVeigh and Paedar Heffron delivered presentations in Irish — the latter concentrating on recruitment in the PSNI with some members of the audience using headphones to listen to a live translation of what was being said.

Constable Heffron told those gathered: “There is undoubtedly a challenge before the PSNI to promote a career or profession in the PSNI in a community where such a possibility would have been impossible a few years ago.”

Belfast Telegraph