Court closures threaten ‘fabric of justice system’ - Law Society

Cuts to court services around the country have reached an unjustifiable level and now pose a threat to "the very fabric of our justice system", the Law Society has said.

The body which represents solicitors said 77 local courts have been closed since 2008, while the Courts Service budget was reduced by 40 per cent.

A proposal to shut suburban District Courts in Dún Laoghaire, Tallaght, Swords and Balbriggan is being considered.

The society's director general Ken Murphy said access to justice was not being taken into consideration by those implementing this "short-sighted and flawed" policy. "The rationalisation of the Courts Service has gone beyond what is sensible and justified, and poses a threat to the very fabric of our justice system."

Courthouses

The society questioned how much money was being saved by closing courthouses.

It said in Skibbereen, where the West Cork Bar Association has brought a legal challenge against the Courts Service to prevent the closure of the District Court, the cost of keeping it open was estimated at €8,000 annually.

“If it is closed what additional costs will the State incur when a member of An Garda Síochána or the HSE has to travel a considerable distance and spend an entire day away from their regular duties?” asked Mr Murphy.

He said the move to close courts in Dublin would leave all but one suburban court sitting in the capital, and none between Bray and the north bank of the Liffey.

This month the Courts Service acknowledged proposed changes would cause some inconvenience, but said they would result in improved services in courtrooms equipped with facilities and support services that could not be provided in suburbs.