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Apathy warning over proposed closure of Strabane Courthouse

Thursday, 19 January 2012

A STRABANE councillor and veteran member of the former District Policing Partnership (DPP) has warned against 'apathy' over the proposed closure of Strabane Courthouse.
Eugene McMenamin spoke out this week after the Strabane Weekly News learned that the Department of Justice has yet to receive a single submission to a public consultation over the proposal.
The move, if implemented, would see five courthouses close across Northern Ireland, with local proceedings transferred to Omagh or Londonderry. A consultation was launched last month and will close in March.
Strabane District Council has already written to Justice Minister David Ford voicing its opposition to the proposal - which is seen as another key service lost to the town.
Leading figures from Strabane's legal fraternity have described it as an ill-advised idea which, some claim, will cost the state more in the long run.
Well-known district judge, Liam McNally, added his voice last week. Lauding recent publicity of the growing campaign to retain the long-established courthouse, he described it as "a very wrong move" during Thursday's sitting of Strabane Magistrates Court.
“It is important that [people's] feelings are made known to the Department of Justice," Mr McNally added.
This, according to Northern Ireland's Court Service, has yet to happen.
On Monday, a spokesperson for the Courts Service confirmed that it has received no submissions into the public consultation.
The revelation follows fears voiced by local councillor and solicitor, Karina Carlin, that the consultation will amount to little more than a 'pape' exercise.
She has stressed that the legal fraternity and leading public figures, such as Sinn Fein's West Tyrone MP and MLA Pat Doherty, will be making their submissions opposing the move in the coming weeks.
However, Eugene McMenamin said responses should come from public bodies right across Strabane.
“There's a lot of people at court that would use the local facilities, such as cafes and shops. So it's very important that there are submissions, from across Strabane because if there are no submissions it will say there's no interest.
“I am disappointed to hear this. I would urge anyone with a vested interest to do something.
“If the courthouse is closed, it's a further loss of jobs to this area and it's devaluing Strabane."
He said apathy "probably" lay behind the silence to date.
“I am concerned as a local councillor. It is not going to look well for Strabane," he added.

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