The legal profession is working in conditions comparable to a "garden centre" because of a three-year delay in the renovation of Cork's main courthouse, the High Court in the city heard yesterday.
The president of the Southern Law Association, Ms Fiona Twomey, told Judge Vivian Lavan the 650 solicitors in Cork were not prepared to tolerate any further delays in the provision of a proper courthouse.
The main courthouse on Washington Street closed in 1999 for renovation and a temporary one was established in a restored warehouse at Camden Quay.
The quay courthouse is costing the State over €700,000 annually in rent.
It was recently referred to in the Law Association Gazette as "Cork's Black Hole of Calcutta" and it has also been called the solicitors' "garden centre".
Ms Twomey told a sitting of the High Court that members of her profession were "duped" about the start and finish dates on renovation work to the Washington Street courthouse. She said solicitors and barristers had little choice but to work in cramped and overcrowded conditions. "We were duped by the authorities and we continue to be duped about the courthouse.
"Feeling are running high and patience is running out. We were promised a courthouse and we got a warehouse. The judges, barristers and public deserve better."
Ms Twomey claimed "courtrooms" in Camden Quay are frequently flooded. Mr Donal McCarthy, a barrister, said there had been 15 sittings at the Camden Quay courthouse even though it was thought the renovations at Washington Street would only take a period of seven sittings.
Judge Lavan claimed it was "inappropriate" that the administration of justice be carried out in an unsuitable facility. It was a source of "amazement" that 3½ years had been allowed to pass without a case being heard in the Washington Street courthouse. He hoped efforts would be made to find a remedy.
Government funding for the Washington Street courthouse was cancelled last November as part of a series of cutbacks. The €25 million project is awaiting approval from the Department of Finance for private funding.