Here's my number ... call me maybe!

I have spent this afternoon researching a piece of law dating back to over 100 years ago. Boring? Maybe. Necessary? Unfortunately. 

So why am I telling you about my afternoon of trawling through dusty text books and law reports? Well, the reason I had to do this is all down to a phone call that was never made. A client made a certain business decision last year. No bad thing in itself. However, at the time the client omitted to seek legal advice on the issue. When the matter came to my attention recently I had to advise that unfortunately the business decision which was taken has legal consequences which could require a court application or two to put their house back in order. Now that business decision, taken for economic reasons to reduce costs in the long term, could have unintended economic results for the client. 

The moral of the story? If you’re not sure what legal effect a decision you’re thinking of taking might have on your business, or even if it will have any legal effect, pick up the phone and give us a call. We might be able to put your mind at rest, or we might have to highlight some problems that you could be facing. We might even be able to save you some money! Either way, you’ll have all of the legal information you need to make your decision.

So, in the words of Carly Rae Jepson, call me maybe!

Maria O’ Donovan

Wolfe & Co.

028 21177

www.wolfe.ie

maria.odonovan@wolfe.ie

Court Closures in West Cork

The news has reached us that the Courts Service are to close Kinsale Courthouse. It appears that a decision has not yet been made in relation to Skibbereen Courthouse, but we understand that it is to close in the near future. 

In the Submissions made to the Courts Service by the West Cork Bar Association the difficulties that West Cork citizens will face if the number of venues is reduced were highlighted. These include:

• Lack of public transport in the area and lack of suitable public transport. It is proposed that Kinsale court matters will be heard in Bandon. There is no public transport between those towns. Public transport between Skibbereen and Bantry is limited to the summer months. This will no doubt result in people being late for court resulting in bench warrants being issued in criminal matters, or cases being struck out in civil matters.
• The travel issue will also impact on necessary witnesses. It is often difficult enough to persuade people to attend court to give evidence on your behalf. This will be doubly so where those witnesses have to travel and wait for even longer in an increased court list for the matter to be dealt with. 
• Gardai, HSE staff and traffic wardens will be required to leave their posts to travel to attend court. While courts are being closed in order to save the Courts Service money, what savings they might make will cost other State departments significantly more in terms of overtime payments and travel expenses. It will also mean, if all on duty Gardai from any one station are required in court on a particular day, that there will be no Gardai on duty on that town.

The impact on access to justice for West Cork citizens will be far-reaching. The decision taken by the Courts Service is disappointing to say the least and in our view is short-sighted.

Wolfe & Co.

www.wolfe.ie

info@wolfe.ie