A JUDGE has granted bail to a man with 39 previous convictions who had committed 13 offences while previously on bail, after hearing that it was not clear that he understood the court proceedings.
A solicitor for Arturas Vilkys, whose usual address is in a homeless hostel on Lord Edward Street in Limerick City told Limerick District Court that his client “has very poor English”, and asked that the case be put back to a date when the court could have a Lithuanian interpreter present for an unconnected matter.
Judge Patricia Harney heard that Vilkys had 14 previous convictions in Ireland and 25 others outside the jurisdiction.
Objecting to bail, the prosecuting Garda Inspector said that the accused man was “addicted to heroin” and that he was concerned he would commit further offences while on bail.
No Garda witness could tell the judge how good the man’s grasp of English was.
Judge Harney said that she would grant bail and remand the theft charges he is facing back to May 10, when there will be a translator present.
“I have to be concerned as to the fairness of this procedure,” she said.
