Sourcing of intermediaries for court attendance

An Intermediary supports a vulnerable person to communicate their best of evidence when engaging within the legal system. In 2023, I was among the first cohort of Irish trained Intermediaries within the Republic of Ireland. As of 2024, there is now a register of Registered Intermediaries within the Criminal Justice System.

While there is no comparable system in place for civil cases, there are many people with communication difficulties who are unable to represent themselves independently and effectively within the civil court system, even though they have the capacity to do so. 

A person with a communication problem, such as an acquired brain injury, can struggle with understanding and speaking in many situations, and this is likely to be more acute in the stressful context of legal proceedings. Therefore, it is important that they can access an intermediary if this is required.

In my expert reports, I recommend access to an intermediary for clients when I feel this is appropriate. This is particularly important in instances where a person has a lack of social supports, or if there is conflict within their close relationships. 

If requested, I can then follow up on sourcing a speech and language therapist who could act as an intermediary.