Emer Gallagher
IT has emerged that the staff at the court offices in Ballina have been approached about redeployment – despite outrage at the planned decentralisation of services to Castlebar.
Cllr Michelle Mulherin (pictured), a practising solicitor in the town, spoke out strongly about the planned relocation of services to Castlebar at the the monthly meeting of the Ballina Town Council last week.
A notice of motion on the agenda for the meeting called on the Minister for Justice and Law Reform and the Courts Service to maintain District Court services in Ballina. The motion was put forward by all nine members of the Council.
“It is a very urgent and grave matter before us. It is not unlikely as the staff at the court office have been asked about redeployment. That’s how far it has progressed,” said Cllr Mulherin.
Cllr Mulherin outlined that the district offices in Ballina were the busiest in the county and carried out a huge range of services, that would place huge pressure on gardaí and the people of the town should they be removed.
PD representative, Cllr Tommy Cooke, suggested that the fate of the services was already decided.
“We can do all the roaring and shouting we like but it is a fait accompli,” said Cllr Cooke.
Cllr Mulherin said that a number of counties such as Galway and Donegal have retained two District Court offices and there should be no reason why this should not be the case in Mayo.
“What is being suggested is absolutely ridiculous on a number of levels. It doesn’t add up,” said Cllr Mulherin.
The FG councillor also hit out at the terrible condition of the court office in Ballina and said there was a case to be made that the offices be extended. “The courhouse is totally unsuitable. It is a disgrace. It is barely holding itself together.”
Cllr Johnnie O’Malley said that any planned move would be very unwelcome, while Cllr Willie Nolan said discussion are ongoing with the Minister for Justice in relation to the closure of the court offices and decision is due in the coming weeks.
