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Council voices opposition to planned courthouse closure

Thursday, 12 January 2012

Call for Justice Minister to visit Strabane. STRABANE District Council will write to the Justice Minister voicing its opposition to Strabane courthouse's planned closure.
Speaking at a council meeting on Monday evening, councillors spoke of their concern that the town's historic courthouse would close its doors following a "paper consultation".
The move comes ahead of a public consultation meeting, which this newspaper understands will be held in Strabane Courthouse on February 16.
Top of the agenda at next month's meeting will be the impact the closure will have on people from the town and wider district, who will be forced to travel to Omagh or to Londonderry for court hearings.
Local solicitors have questioned the cost effectiveness of the proposed efficiency.
Karina Carlin, a local solicitor and councillor, has told the Strabane Weekly News: "If lawyers have to travel, they are going to claim expenses. And legal aid also covers [defendants'] travel. They are scolding us about keeping legal aid to a minimum. How can they do that when they are looking to do this?"
However, sources, meanwhile, suggest that the move could save in excess of £400,000 a year in operating costs.
On March 2, The Department of Justice will stop taking public responses to the planned move, which would also see courthouses shut in Limavady, Magherafelt, Bangor and Larne.
Amid calls for the Justice Minister, David Ford, to visit Strabane District Council and address councillors' concerns personally, elected representatives this week voiced their opposition.
“We have serious concerns in relation to the planned enquiry [public consultation] and the closing of Strabane courthouse. So let the Minister know now we are concerned about it," independent councillor, Eugene McMenamin, told a meeting of the council on Monday evening.
The DUP's John Donnell and Thomas Kerrigan agreed.
“Strabane courthouse has been there over the years, throughout the Troubles, and I would not like to see the court go purely for financial reasons," Mr Donnell said.
“I fully support this letter going [to the Justice Minister]. It should be backed up by the consultation [response] and...we should go and meet the Minister then," councillor Thomas Kerrigan added.
“This looks very bad for the whole district council area. But when you have the services there it's easier to keep them."
Karina Carlin said the local courthouse should not be lost in the manner the town's police custody suite was removed.
“We allowed the custody suite to close two years ago. That went unchallenged. This runs the risk of becoming a paper consultation," she told the chamber.

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