Interpreter gives evidence as Tipperary murder reaches closing stages
Hasan Ali Gori has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Josephine Ray on August 4, 2024, at her home in St Joseph’s Park in Nenagh
An African interpreter has given evidence in the trial of a 52-year-old man who is accused of murdering a Tipperary grandmother in her home more than two years ago.
Ibrahim Abdullah Mohammed was called to the witness box to translate a word, from the Hausa language, used by the accused - Hasan Ali Gori - during the course of his interviews with gardaí.
The prosecution’s case is that Mr Ali Gori, who was in a relationship with the daughter of Josephine Ray at the time of her death, strangled and smothered the pensioner in her bed.
The accused has pleaded not guilty to the murder of the Tipperary grandmother on August 4, 2024, at her home in St Joseph’s Park in Nenagh.
The accused’s interpreter Mr Ibrahim Abdullah Mohammed, was called on by the defence counsel, led by Senior Counsel Aidan Doyle, to translate the word “ba” which Mr Ali Gori claims were his words during a three hour long audio recording found on his phone by gardaí.
In the audio recording, which was played to the jury earlier in the trial, Mr Ali Gori and Mary Ray can be heard arguing.
The audio recording was taken on Saturday, August 3, the evening before the 89-year-old Tipperary woman was found dead.
In a recorded interview with gardaí, at Nenagh garda station, after the accused was re-arrested in July 2025, detectives can be heard questioning Mr Ali Gori about the contents of the audio recording.
They alleged that Mr Ali Gori can be heard saying “murder her”, referring to murdering Josephine Ray, whilst Mr Ali Gori claims he said “murder ba”.
According to the interpreter, Mr Abdullah Mohammed, the word “ba” translates to “really”
The term originates from the Hausa language spoken in African nations including Nigeria and Chad. where Mr Ali Gori is originally from.
In his evidence, Mr Abdullah Mohammed explained how “ba” is a common word used when someone says something you were not expecting.
When asked by Mr Doyle what he heard on the audio recording, he said: “Listening to the tape, what I clearly heard was murder ba”.
The trial, which is in its closing stages, continues before Mr Justice Séan Gillane.