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Courthouse closure would be ‘doing Strabane an injustice

Thursday, 23 February 2012

PROPOSALS to close Strabane courthouse were vehemently opposed by a wide cross-section of the local community at a public meeting in the town.
In December, Justice Minster David Ford announced plans to close five court hearing centres across Northern Ireland, including Strabane. As part of the public consultation process in relation to this proposal, a meeting was held in the local courthouse, located on Derry Road, on Thursday evening last.
The large turnout reflected the strength of the opposition to the proposed closure locally. Among those to voice their anger were West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty and MLA Michaela Boyle, as well as a wide range of local councillors, solicitors and representatives from community groups.
The meeting, which lasted for over two hours, was opened by two representatives from the NI Courts and Tribunals Service - Mrs Jacqui Durkin, head of business operations, and Mr Peter Luney, head of court operations.
They explained that the proposals to close the five hearing centres were, primarily, financially-motivated and would save the Court Service around £400,000 per year in running costs. This largely relates to spending on security, utilities and minor maintenance.
Closing Strabane courthouse would mean a reduction in operating costs of £141,000 a year, Mr Luney added.
He also said that to bring the five hearing centres up to standard would cost around £3m.
Mr Luney said that the business that currently took place in Strabane courthouse every week could be accommodated in Omagh.
Listen
Both Mrs Durkin and Mr Luney repeatedly told the meeting that they would listen to what was said and report it back to the Justice Minister before a final decision was made. They were both keen to stress that it was not a "done deal", despite the fears that were expressed by many speakers.
Responses to the public consultation process will be accepted until March 2, and a report will be issued between six weeks and two months after that date, Mr Luney revealed.
After the brief outline of the proposals, local solicitor, Paul Crawford, was the first person to give a response to the closure plans, on behalf of Strabane Solicitors Association.
Making reference to the Magna Carta, Mr Crawford said there was an obligation on the state to provide people with a fixed place of justice to go to, and also to make justice available to people.
He also asked what benefits would the closure bring to local clients of justice, to which Mrs Durkin admitted that they were not sure what the benefits would be, if any.
She also admitted that there would be disruption and it would mean that some people would have to travel further, but reiterated that the Court Service was required to live within its budget.
Fellow local solicitor, Canice McManus, described the facilities in Strabane as "10 times better" than the cramped courthouse in Omagh, particularly in relation to the youth court provision at both venues. He added that there was frequent use of the disabled facilities in Strabane.
Mr McManus urged the Court Service to utilise the assets they have got, instead of throwing them away. He also pointed out that the £100,000 spent on upgrading security at Strabane courthouse recently would be "washed down the drain" if it was closed.
Asking the Court Service to rescind their proposals, local independent councillor, Eugene McMenamin, questioned their claims that it would cost around £140,000 a year to run Strabane courthouse.
Mr McMenamin said that a Freedom of Information request had revealed that it had cost a total of £50,000 to run the local courthouse over the last four years, around £12,500 in each year - significantly lower than the Court Service estimates.
Inundated
Local MLA, Michaela Boyle, told the meeting that her office had been inundated with messages from people who want the courthouse to stay open.
She said that Strabane was a bustling town on Thursdays and Fridays, the two days each week that the court still sits.
The MLA added that local people would not be reimbursed for increased travel and child care costs as a result of having to journey to Omagh for a hearing.
Independent councillor, James O'Kane, said Justice Minister, David Ford, was treating the people of Strabane "with contempt" by not being at the meeting in person to hear their views.
However, local businessman and SDLP councillor, Patsy Kelly, revealed that he had lobbied Mr Ford on the issue in Stormont two days before the meeting, and described him as "very attentive and willing to listen" to his concerns.
Strabane District Council chairman, Brian McMahon, urged the Court Service to carry out an Equality Impact Assessment on the effect the proposals would have on the area before coming to a decision.
Glenelly councillor, Michelle McMackin, backed the call for a full Equality Impact Assessment. She said the most vulnerable in the town would be affected by the decision, adding that the Court Service were doing an "injustice" to the town.
She added that she had been "highly disgusted by the blatant lack of transparency" in the consultation process, and said that community groups in rural areas and disabled groups had not been consulted.
Other councillors from both the Glenelly and Derg areas, including Maoliosa McHugh, Rhonda Hamilton, Derek Hussey and Thomas Kerrigan, also made clear their opposition to the proposed closure.
Solicitor, Michael Scally, observed that it was "patently obvious" that the facilities in Strabane were far better than Omagh, and urged the Court Service to reconsider their decision in 2009 to downgrade the local courthouse to a hearing centre.
He added that there was a perception that the decision to redirect services away from Strabane had been taken years ago.
Applauded
In an impassioned plea, which was roundly applauded by the audience, local solicitor and councillor Karina Carlin claimed that the proposals would result in "second class justice" for local young people, who would be forced to travel to a "crammed, stuffy, oppressive" room in Omagh.
Praising the painstaking work of the local Community Safety Partnership with the youth in Strabane, Ms Carlin said this would be undone by the Court Service for the sake of £140,000 per year.
Claiming that Strabane was "expendable", the councillor said that the town had to battle to get everything that people in the city take for granted.
She described the proposals as a "pounds and pence exercise", adding that access to justice didn't come into it.
While the courthouse may not be loved, Ms Carlin said, it was "used and appreciated", and called it a "local service provided by local people for local people".
The councillor said that all parties in Strabane were speaking with an "unanimous voice" and wanted the Derry Road facility to stay open.
“It's a no-brainer. Go back to David Ford and tell him to find his £140,000 from somewhere else," Ms Carlin added.
West Tyrone MP, Pat Doherty, said he was impressed by the width and depth of the support for Strabane courthouse.
Mr Doherty said he could hardly believe that the building was being closed just to make a saving of £140,000 per year, claiming that the Court Service would be spending half that amount on the consultation process.
“It doesn't make any sense," the MP added.
Solicitor, John McManus, told the meeting that it was "illogical" to attack front-line services.
He said that the Justice Ministry had a budget of millions every year, and that a saving of £140,000 represented "cutting around the edges".
“Justice will not be done if this courthouse is closed," Mr McManus added.
The consultation document in relation to the proposals to close the five hearing centres across Northern Ireland can be viewed on the NI Courts and Tribunals Service website at: www.courtsni.gov.uk
Responses to the consultation can be made up until March 2 this year.

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