Motive for closure of Ballinrobe court questioned

Ballinrobe court move questioned


Councillor rubbishes security arguments put forward for immediate move to Castlebar

Áine Ryan

A SUDDEN decision by the Court Services to immediately transfer its sittings from Ballinrobe to Castlebar ‘pending a review of security arrangements’ and ‘in view of the poor facilities’ was yesterday (Monday) questioned by Independent councillor, Harry Walsh.
This follows his criticism last week of the fact that the presiding District Court judge, Mary Devins (pictured)  – who regularly parked on double-yellow lines outside the court – was ‘creating the wrong impression about the parking bye-laws in the town’.
Expressing his regret at the sudden move of the services, Cllr Walsh told The Mayo News yesterday that ‘there are plenty of car parking spaces adjacent to the courthouse and, moreover, there are spaces across the road that would be perfect from a security point of view’.
On the other hand, in a statement by the Court Services it was argued that there ‘is no parking space outside of, or near, Ballinrobe Courthouse’ and that, therefore, Judge Devins ‘was instructed to park outside the Courthouse by An Garda Síochána – for reasons of security’.
The statement continued: “In view of the poor facilities, and pending a review of security arrangements in Ballinrobe Courthouse, the District Court in Ballinrobe will, with immediate effect, sit temporarily in Castlebar Courthouse on the third Friday of the month (except August).”
A Garda spokesman told The Mayo News last week that special powers under the Road Traffic Act allow such parking facilities and that cones were usually placed in the area to mark the reserved spot. 
However, a Court Services spokesman declined to comment on whether the media reportage of Cllr Walsh’s criticism had precipitated the immediate removal of the service to Castlebar.
“The facilities at the courthouse are a problem as the court is situated above a pub, with no wheelchair access and there are security issues for the Gardaí and the judge,” the spokesman said. When pressed, he added that it was policy not to comment on the details of security issues.
Cllr Walsh rubbished these arguments, observing that he did not believe that district justices took instructions from the Gardaí (in this instance, regarding where to park).
“The point I’m making is that even if she [Judge Devins] was advised to do so, parking there was still incompatible with her hearing traffic offences inside the court. It’s absolute nonsense,” said Cllr Walsh.
“If this move to Castlebar Court is related to my criticism, well then the judge has questions to answer, and so has the Court Services, if it is the case. And, if they are using the wheelchair access issue, it must be asked have they just found out about the disability legislation, or is it that it just suits them to use it now?” he continued.
He said that he, and his colleagues on the Council, will continue to press for the building of a new District Court in Ballinrobe.
“The first District Court sitting in the country, after independence, was held in the Town Hall in Ballinrobe, so there is a historic reason for it being retained,” added Cllr Walsh.
Furthermore, the Court Services’ statement also alluded to the decision to retain court sittings, on a temporary basis, in Ballinrobe.
“It was decided in last year’s national review of the organisation of District Court areas that the business of Ballinrobe would be transferred to Claremorris. It was later agreed with local court users that we would endeavour to keep Ballinrobe courthouse open until new court facilities were built in Claremorris.”
The decision to move Ballinrobe court sittings, with immediate effect, was also questioned by the chairperson of Ballinrobe Community Development Council, Denise Horan. “Our understanding was that there would be no move until a new courthouse was built in Claremorris, which allowed us time – so we thought – to campaign for a change in the initial decision to close Ballinrobe Courthouse, or at least to put forward proposals for alternative usage for what is a fine building.
“We were aware of the reasons cited for the initial decision, but I cannot see how there has been a sudden deterioration in security matters in, or outside of, the building that precipitated this move, which will have a serious economic impact on Ballinrobe at a time when things are difficult enough for local business. Effectively, the Courts Service has, overnight, pulled the plug on something that has been, for many reasons, an important part of life in our town for generations.
“This is something we, as a committee, will be discussing immediately and we will be looking for a reversal of the decision,” she concluded.
Ballinrobe District Court will sit in Castlebar on Friday next, January 23.
In another unexpected move this week, the Courts Services in Mayo announced that Claremorris District Court would now be sitting in Kiltimagh ‘until there is a new court house or a more suitable venue is obtained in Claremorris’.