This article is from page 16 of the 2008-12-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
THERE has been a surge in applica- tions to reduce maintenance in the family law courts in Clare, as a di- rect result of the recession.
Family law solicitors in the county say more and more people are facing difficulty in paying maintenance and are applying to the district court to vary payments.
The free legal advice clinics in En- nis are also noticing a huge increase in queries related to family law and employment law issues, due to the downturn in the economy.
Solicitor and family law special- ist Mairead Doyle said many people have had reduced incomes or are on
social welfare and as a result are simply unable to meet maintenance payments.
‘There 1s a marked increase in the number of applications for decreas- ing maintenance before the courts. This is as a result of some people earning substantially less than they were, she said.
She pointed out that the threat of committal to jail is hanging over those who fail to meet their main- tenance commitments, pending the decision of a district court judge.
‘People are missing payments and are being brought back before the judge. The penalty is committal to prison and the judge has to consider each case on its own merits,” said Ms
Doyle.
Those who are not receiving their maintenance are going to court, to PYG COKoN MOO OMONTLAKOe
‘The other option is for an attach- ment of earnings order to be brought to the district court, where someone applies to have maintenance deduct- ed at source by the employer. Those applications are more common now,” added Ms Doyle, who is an associate partner at Michael Houlihan’s solici- tors in Ennis.
She said the family law courts — which sit twice a month in Clare — have been particularly busy in the run-up to Christmas, amid intense family pressures and the squeeze on incomes.
“The family law courts are ex- tremely busy, especially coming up to Christmas. There are access mat- ters and problems with maintenance. The downturn is taking effect. Peo- ple are really feeling the pinch,” she NCO
Ms Doyle is on the free legal ad- vice panel, which runs clinics in Ennis every week and has noticed a sizeable increase 1n queries in recent weeks.
“The clinics are inundated with family law and employment law que- ries. The way the economy is going, a lot more pressure is being put on relationships,’ she said.
The free legal advice clinics are regularly held at the Ennis Citizens
Information Centre on Bindon Lane every Thursday between 7pm and O00