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.
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