New figures reveal heavy case loads in various District Courts

More than 450,000 cases were dealt with in district courts around the country in 2014, with some areas having case counts more than twice the size of others, new figures show.

The highest case count in any district with a single judge assigned was almost 15,000, in District 12. The area covers Ennis, Kilrush and Killaloe, Co Clare and Gort, Co Galway and is presided over by Judge Patrick Durcan.

District 7, covering Clifden, Kilronan, Derrynea and Galway City, Co Galway, where Judge Mary Fahy is assigned, had a case count of more than 14,850.

District 9, covering Longford Town and Athlone and Mullingar in Co Westmeath, had almost 13,900. It is covered by Judge Seamus Hughes.

Judge Mary Devins presides over the district with the lowest case count. District 3, which covers Castlebar, Westport, Achill, Ballina and Belmullet, Co Mayo, had a case count of 6,039.

In District 1, which covers Letterkenny, Buncrana, Falcarragh, Glenties, Dungloe and Carndonagh, Co Donegal, and is presided over by Judge Paul Kelly, the case count was just over 7,600.

Correspond directly

In District 18, which covers Bandon, Macroom, Clonakilty, Skibbereen and Bantry, Co Cork, and is presided over by Judge James McNulty, there were almost 7,780 cases.

There are 23 court districts, which do not always correspond directly with counties. District 4, for example, takes in Tuam, Loughrea and Ballinasloe, Co Galway, and Strokestown, Ballaghaderreen, Castlerea and Roscommon town, Co Roscommon. Judge Geoffrey Browne, now retired, presided here in 2014 when the case count was more than 12,000. He has not yet been officially replaced.

Specific districts

There are 59 District Court judges; 41 are assigned to specific districts, and 18 moveable judges cover leave, illness, specially fixed cases and extra court sittings. They earn between €111,698 and €123,881, depending on year of appointment, according to the Association of Judges of Ireland.

The fourth-largest case count, of more than 13,200, was in District 25, covering Naas, Kilcock and Athy, Co Kildare, where Judge Desmond Zaidan is assigned. This was followed by District 15, with almost 12,700. It covers Portlaoise, Co Laois and Tullamore, Co Offaly, and is presided over by Judge Catherine Staines.

In District 20, covering Midleton, Mallow and Fermoy, Co Cork, where Judge Brian Sheridan is assigned, the case count was almost 12,500.

Areas with case counts of between 11,000 and 12,000 were: District 17, Tralee, Dingle, Killarney, Killorglin, Cahirciveen, Kenmare and Listowel, Co Kerry, presided over by Judge James O’Connor; District 6, Dundalk and Drogheda, Co Louth, presided over by Judge Flannan Brennan; and District 23, Gorey, and Wexford Town, Co Wexford, presided over by Judge Gerard Haughton.

District 22, Kilkenny and Carlow, had more than 11,900 cases in 2014, when retired judge Eamon O’Brien presided. He has been replaced by Judge Colin Daly.

District 16, Bray, Arklow and Wicklow Town, Co Wicklow, where Judge David Kennedy presides, and District 5, Cavan, Virginia, Monaghan and Carrickmacross, both had cases counts of almost 11,000.

In 2014, retired judge Sean MacBride was assigned to District 5. Judge Denis McLoughlin now presides.

Areas with case counts between 9,000 and 10,000 were: District 2, Sligo Town, Tubbercurry and Manorhamilton, Co Sligo, with Ballyshannon, Donegal Town, Co Donegal, and Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, presided over by Judge Kevin Kilraine; District 8, Nenagh, Thurles and Tipperary town, Co Tipperary, presided over by Judge Elizabeth MacGrath; District 10, Trim and Navan, Co Meath and Ardee, Co Louth, covered by Judge Gráinne Malone; District 21, Lismore, Clonmel, Cashel and Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary, Youghal, Co Cork and Dungarvan, Co Waterford, covered by Judge Terence Finn; and District 24, Waterford City, where Judge Kevin Staunton presides.

Averaging

The case count for the Dublin Metropolitan District, which has 18 judges, was almost 162,200, averaging at just over 9,000 cases per judge.

In District 13, which includes Limerick City and Newcastle West, Co Limerick, there was a case count of just above 24,500. Two judges preside here: Judge Mary Larkin and Judge Marian O’Leary.

In Cork City, District 19, the case count was 33,687. There are three judges here: Judge Constantine O’Leary, Judge Leo Malone and Judge Olann Kelleher.

In Dolphin House, where all of the capital’s family law District Court cases are dealt with, excluding Swords, the case load was 16,122, an average of more than 3,200 cases per judge.