Courts / Dublin / Report

Deafblind man in fight against refusal of interpreter to help him learn braille

Summary

A deafblind man, David Eccles, is challenging the refusal of legal aid by the Legal Aid Board in the High Court. He is seeking to pursue a discrimination claim against the HSE for not providing an Irish Sign Language interpreter to assist him in learning braille. Eccles has Usher Syndrome Type 1, which has caused him to lose his hearing and vision progressively. He relies on ISL to communicate and requires an interpreter to access braille training. The HSE's health contractor, Vision Ireland, refused to fund an interpreter, preventing Eccles from participating in the training. Eccles argues that this refusal constitutes direct discrimination under the Equal Status Act 2000 and the Constitution. He is unemployed and dependent on social welfare, making it impossible for him to afford legal representation. The High Court granted permission for the legal challenge, acknowledging the logistical difficulties faced by Eccles in pursuing the case. The matter is adjourned to July for further proceedings.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Deafblind man in fight against refusal of interpreter to help him learn braille. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• September 2025 Other
• 2026-06-15 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Hearing Or Decision

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Read the original CNI report