Cork Leaving Cert student Christina to hold court in California

A Cork Leaving Certificate student is the only European to be invited to participate in a prestigious legal competition in California later this year.

Christina O’Donovan, a student at Coláiste na Toirbhirte, Bandon, has been invited to participate in the Gladiator Stand-Up Mock Trials in the Sunshine State in the summer.

The invitation arrived on foot of her outstanding performance last October at the prestigious Empire Mock Trials World Finals at the US district court for the eastern district of New York in Brooklyn.

The 18-year-old’s performance attracted the attention of Cork-born lawyer Domhnall O’Catháin, a native of Ballincollig and an attorney practising in New Jersey and New York for some 13 years.

Mr O’Catháin volunteered to mentor the teenager in preparation for the demanding three-day event which takes place in Newport. The duo are currently communicating through email, Skype, and phone and it is hoped Mr O’Catháin will be able to attend the trials which begin on July 8.

Ms O’Donovan will be accompanied on the trip by two teachers from Coláiste na Toirbhirte: Siobhán Fitzgerald, the school’s Transition Year co-ordinator, and Transition Year tutor Lisa McCarthy.

Last October, Ms O’Donovan was a member of the 16-strong Coláiste na Toirbhirte team which competed in the New York trials, prosecuting and defending two cases.

She acted as both prosecuting and defence attorney at the event which featured 40 teams of students from all over the world.

“Based on her performance, Christina was invited by a judge to go to California and compete in the Gladiator Stand-Up Mock Trials — she is the only competitor from Europe who was specifically invited to compete in this event which will feature students from all parts of the United States,” said Ms McCarthy.

It will be mid-June, however, before she can start formally preparing for the challenging event, which requires her to be very familiar with US law.

“I will not be getting details of the case until 30 days before the competition,” she said.

Sitting her Leaving Certificate examinations in June, she will have to wait until her exams are finished before she can turn her attention to preparing for the legal competition.

In the meantime, Ms O’Donovan will be studying US law and taking drama lessons to help her prepare for the challenge. She will be judged on four performances, as a prosecutor, a defence attorney, and as a witness for the prosecution and the defence.

“Domhnall will also be helping prepare her for these roles,” said Ms McCarthy.

Ms O’Donovan, whose ambition is to study for a degree in law, politics and economics in Edinburgh next year, is interested in a career in law, as well as possibly, working in the diplomatic service or in journalism.

The California trip is a “bit nerve-wracking”, she acknowledges. However, she’s looking forward to the challenge which she believes will “test me as a person”.