Location sought for temporary Claremorris courthouse

Suggestions sought for location of temporary Claremorris courthouse


Michael Duffy

THE COURTS Service confirmed to The Mayo News yesterday (Monday) that they are open to suggestions from local legal practitioners and the community at large as to where a temporary courthouse can be based in the south Mayo town.
There was growing anger in the town last week after an overnight decision was taken last month to move the busy sittings of the court 12 miles away to Kiltimagh, with Judge Mary Devins stating that ‘what passed for a courthouse [in Claremorris] was seriously sub-standard and shouldn’t have been tolerated at all’.
Cllr Pat McHugh said last night that he had written to both the Minister for Justice and the Courts Service to protest at the removal of District Court sittings in Claremorris – and to find out what the situation was with regard to the provision of a new courthouse building in the town.
However, a spokesperson for the Courts Service confirmed on Monday that a regional manager has recently met with the President of the local bar and with senior solicitors in the town to discuss the sourcing of a suitable venue for use as a temporary court venue, pending the building of a purpose-built courthouse in the town.
“We are open to any suitable suggestions as to venues from these local practitioners or others who wish to make suggestions.”
The spokesperson also confirmed that a new courthouse will be built in the town once funding is made available.
“We have already agreed with the Office of Public Works that the new courthouse will be provided on the same site as the proposed decentralised offices for the Office of Public Works in the town. The new offices and the courthouse are to be provided on a design/build basis and the Office of Public Works have been briefed on the Courts Service requirements for the courthouse.
“We appreciate the difficulties which the temporary transfer of the court venue to
Kiltimagh will cause for litigants, legal representatives and others. The Courts Service fully intends to provide a permanent court venue in Claremorris – with an increased level of court business – as soon as possible, consistent with the appropriate funding being available.”