Queen's visit bomber loses appeal based on Irish language rights

A 67-year-old man from Drumlish, County Longford, has lost his appeal against conviction at the Court of Appeal following his trial at the Special Criminal Court. Dónal Billings was convicted of possessing an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on 16 May 2011, and of making false bomb threat reports during Queen Elizabeth's State visit to Ireland that same month. He received a sentence of eight-and-a-half years imprisonment. Billings' appeal centred on claims that his Irish language rights were violated during trial proceedings conducted in both Irish and English. His legal team argued that a transcript of evidence was provided in English only despite the State's capacity to provide one in Irish. Mr Justice George Birmingham, President of the Court of Appeal, dismissed the appeal, finding no evidence that Billings experienced disadvantage and noting that comprehensive interpretation arrangements had been made. The court found the evidence against Billings was sufficient to sustain conviction.