Omagh Bombing Inquiry: Translation and Interpretation Policy 

Purpose of this policy  

• The Omagh Bombing Inquiry (the Inquiry/ OBI) is committed to ensuring that all Core Participants (CPs) can meaningfully engage with and participate in the Inquiry.  
• This document sets out how and when the Inquiry will provide translation and interpretation services to core participants (CPs) who require them. 
• This policy will be kept under regular review. 

Definitions  

• Translation means the conversion of documents written in one language to another. 
• Interpretation means the conversion of one spoken language into another.

Background  

• OBI is a statutory inquiry established under the Inquiries Act 2005.  
• Neither the Inquiries Act 2005 nor the Inquiry Rules 2006 mention the translation or interpretation of inquiry documents or proceedings. However, per s.17 (3) of the Inquiries Act 2005, the Chair must have regard to the need to avoid any unnecessary cost to public funds.  
• Due to the particular circumstances of the Omagh Bombing, the Inquiry understands and accepts the need to consider the translation of proceedings into Spanish. This policy is written with that in mind. The Inquiry will not, as standard, offer translation or interpretation into other languages.  
• OBI is committed to working in a trauma-informed manner, as defined in the HMG working definition of trauma-informed practice.  

Hearings  

• OBI commits to the interpretation of all Inquiry proceedings into Spanish. This interpretation will be available to listen to live online. As far as possible, the interpretation will be hosted on the Inquiry’s website within 24 hours of the conclusion of a hearing day.  
• This interpretation will only be available online. There will be no facility to listen to a live interpretation in the hearing room.  

Disclosure of written documents 

•  Across the course of the Inquiry, OBI will disclose large volumes of documents to CPs. This may include but will not be limited to:  
  • Governance documents e.g. Terms of Reference, restriction orders, protocols, financial reports, guidance notes. 
  • Evidence from material providers.  
  • Correspondence from the Chair and legal team to external bodies including material providers and UKG.  
  • Letters of instruction to expert witnesses and expert reports.  
  • Transcripts of hearings.  
  • Updates from the secretariat and legal team. 
  • The Chair’s final report and its summary.  

• OBI commits to translating these core documents: 
  • Terms of Reference 
  • Governance documents directly relevant to Core Participants   
  • Updates to CPs from the secretariat and legal team 
  • Rulings by the Chairman. 
  • A summary of the Chairman’s final report 
• OBI will keep these lists under review and may choose to translate additional documents.  
• CPs may request the translation of documents through their RLR. Such requests will be assessed by OBI on a case-by-case basis. Such requests must include detailed justification and have regard to the Chairman’s statutory obligation to avoid unnecessary cost. 

Consultations between CPs and their recognised legal representative (RLR) 

• When CPs engage with their RLR, it is important that they feel understood and supported, particularly given the traumatic nature of the events they will be discussing. The Inquiry will consider, on a case-by-case basis, authorising the use of any CPs’ interpreter of choice for the purposes of consultation only and subject to the need to avoid unnecessary costs.  
• The rate for any interpreter will be considered a disbursement subject to the terms of the costs protocol and must therefore be agreed with the Inquiry in advance of any work being undertaken.  
• When approved, such consultations should be undertaken remotely as a default. 

Translation into UK indigenous languages   

• Text translation into Welsh is required by the Welsh Language Act 1993 for public bodies which provide services to the public in Wales or exercise statutory functions in relation to the provision by other public bodies of services to the public in Wales. As OBI provides no services to the Welsh public, this requirement does not apply.   
• Under the New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) deal, the UK and Irish Governments, along with the five largest NI political parties, made a series of commitments to the Irish and Ulster-Scots languages.  At the time of writing, there is no statutory requirement for government bodies to provide services in either language.