The Dublin Solicitors Bar Association has criticised the proposed closure of District Courts in Tallaght, Dún Laoghaire, Balbriggan and Swords. The association said that the closures would result in wasted Garda time as they would have to spend more time travelling to Blanchardstown and the Criminal Courts of Justice on Parkgate Street, where the District Court will continue to sit. In their statement the association rejected the claim that the closures will save money. They questioned whether the Courts Service had sufficiently examined the effects of the closures or their wider social costs. The issues that were raised include increased costs for gardaí and increased costs and inconvenience for court users. It was also suggested that witnesses may be unwilling or unable to travel longer distances to court.
The association have also voiced concerned that the proposed closures will affect access to justice for the most vulnerable members of society. This echoed the views of the Law Society, who earlier in the week said that court closures have reached unjustifiable levels and now pose a threat to “the very fabric of our justice system”.
The Courts Service justified the proposals, saying that they will result in enhanced facilities and support services in courtrooms. Minister for Finance Michael Noonan said that the legal profession were resisting change. He said that lawyers were “a very conservative profession” and that “things have to move on”.
Click here to read an article in The Irish Times on the subject.