This article is from page 12 of the 2011-12-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
PLANS TO centralise courts services to Ennis have been described as “disgraceful”.
Court sittings across the county will experience significant changes in the new year if proposals to centralise the service are adopted.
Under the changes, most of the hearings will be centralised to Ennis. While Kilrush cases will continue to be heard in the West Clare town, cases from North Clare are to be moved to Ennis. Killaloe courts currently sit in Ennis as a temporary measure while a new venue for the East Clare courts is being sought. Shannon cases have been heard in Ennis for the past few years.
North Clare sittings were held in Kilrush Courthouse during the past few years but the latest changes mean that any prospects of court sittings in Ennistymon are not likely, at least in the short-term.
Lahinch businessman Donogh O’Loughlin has expressed concern at the latest proposals.
“I think it is disgraceful. It is a loss of business for some people, the local restaurants and hotels. Also it is going to be more expensive for gardaí to go to Ennis and sit all day in a court and it might be heard and it might not be heard,” he said.
“It is another thing gone from the towns in the county. It is a pity. Ennistymon badly needs activity,” he said.
Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway said that courts should not be centralised to Ennis as other towns should also play a role in the administration of justice.
“I don’t agree with the centralisation of the courts service. I believe that courts in a community play an important role. People shouldn’t have to be discommoded and spend an entire day in court for something that could take 10 minutes,” he said.
“From a humanitarian point of view I don’t think it is fair. A court taking place in a town or a community is a deterrent. I’m not saying, ‘Hang them and flog them’, but if they see gardaí or a judge walking into court it does create some deterrent,” said Senator Conway.
“We are in the economic climate where we can’t justify things we did before.
“In Ennistymon I do appreciate that there won’t be a new courthouse built but there is adequate space to have a court in Ennistymon on the first Wednesday of every month. From a business point of view it brings people around. We can’t have everything happening in Ennis,” he said.