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Solicitors Describe Roscrea Courthouse Closure As ‘Manifestly Wrong’

Thursday, 8 December 2011

Pictured at last week’s protest at Roscrea Courthouse were

'I personally have no issue or concerns with the facilities provided to me as a Judge in this Court', stated Judge Elizabeth McGrath at Roscrea District Court on Thursday morning last. This statement from the Judge is in stark contrast to the statement by Mr. John Coyle, Head of Circuit and District Court Operations, who in a letter outlining the reasons why Roscrea Court is to close said they can see 'no reasonable justification' for reviewing the decision to close Roscrea Court and that they 'cannot sustain using a Courthouse that does not meet the standards that they wish to provide and that Court users are entitled to expect'.
Judge McGrath was speaking from the bench on Thursday last prior to retiring to her chambers temporarily to allow for a symbolic walkout by members of the legal profession who were objecting to the closure of the Court and the moving of services to Nenagh. Restricted through her position in what she could say on the matter, the Judge did point out that the decision to close the Court was not made by the judiciary, but by Courts Service, which is the authority that has been given statutory power by the Oireachtas in this regard. Meanwhile, the legal profession has stated that it is 'manifestly wrong' to close the Court in Roscrea, while some local Councillors have made calls on local Government Deputies to bring the Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, to Roscrea to explain his reasons for doing so.
Earlier a well supported protest outside the Courthouse, which was organised by Roscrea Community Development Council, was attended by the Mayor of North Tipperary, a number of local representatives, members of Roscrea Chamber of Commerce and Roscrea Heritage Society and a large group of concerned locals. None of the three North Tipperary Dail deputies attended the protest.
Roscrea Court is set to officially close on Wednesday 14th December and last Thursday's sitting marked the last full sitting of the Court in the town after 1,000 years in operation. From January all criminal, civil and family law matters from the Roscrea are will be heard in Nenagh District Court, where it is expected that Courts will sit eight days every month.
Speaking at the protest outside Roscrea District Court on Thursday morning last Mr. John Lupton, Chairman of RCDC, who organised the protest, said that the closure of Roscrea Court will result in savings of just €8,000. 'I am calling on the Minister for Justice to intervene in this matter,' stated Mr. Lupton.
Local author and historian, Mr. George Cunningham, said that the closure of the Courthouse is another tragedy for Roscrea and showed a lack of care for rural communities. He said that the closure will infringe most on poorer people and 'there is an injustice here'.
Mr. Cunningham told the gathering that the first parliament ever to sit in Ireland sat in the town of Roscrea and that 2013 marks the 800th anniversary of this event. Describing the closure of the Courthouse as a 'social injustice', Mr. Cunningham said 'it means nothing to them (the decision makers) but it means a lot to us and a lot to the heritage of our town. This protest shows we care'.
He continued by saying that it is vital to ensure that the Courthouse building is not allowed to fall into a state of disrepair, saying that it is one of the very few architectural building of note in the town that still retains its original purpose. He said that to alter that status would be a very retrograde step and one that should not be taken lightly. 'Some years ago the building was renovated and conserved to a very high standard. Its facade should have the status of a National monument, as its architectural excellence deserves that accolade. But it has another, almost subconscious function - it stands apart as a building that speaks of justice and the new democratic Ireland. In a simple but elegant manner it performs the function that monumental Courthouse buildings throughout the free world do - it commands respect,' said Mr. Cunningham.
Mr. Cunningham concluded 'Its' form and function are integral parts of the social and heritage fabric of Roscrea. I urge in the strongest possible manner the Court Authorities to rescind their decision to move the District Court sessions from this historic building.'
Mr. John Guilfoyle, President of Roscrea Chamber of Commerce, concurred with previous speakers adding that the decision to close Roscrea Court is 'absolutely crazy'. He stated that Roscrea currently has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. Local Fianna Fail Cllr. Michael Smith recalled that in January of this year that North Tipperary County Council spent €40,000 to refurbish Roscrea Courthouse.
‘There is no justice for the people of Roscrea in this decision to close the Court,' he stated and he called on Fine Gael Deputy Noel Coonan and Labour Junior Minister Alan Kelly to bring the Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, to Roscrea to meet the local people at any time, day or night, to give his reasons
why this decision makes any sense. Cllr. Smith also pledged that North Tipperary County Council would, if necessary,
spend more money to bring the building up to the required standard.
Cllr. Eddie Moran, a member of the Lowry team, fully supported the calls of those present not to close the Court service in Roscrea while his colleague, Mayor of North Tipperary, Cllr. Micheal Lowry, said that the Courthouse forms part of the fabric of Roscrea. He said that it will cost a great deal more than the €8,000 planned savings to move the entire service and all those attached to it to Nenagh. 'It is incumbent on our Government deputies to bring the Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter, down here to explain this. He is totally out of touch with rural Ireland and it is time for their pre-Election promises to be honoured,' said Mayor Lowry.
Local Fine Gael Cllr. Denis Ryan said that he vehemently opposes the decision by Courts Service to close Roscrea Court. He said that while he fully understands the currently financial situation in the country, it will ultimately cost more to close this service in Roscrea. Cllr. Ryan said that many of those using the Court in Roscrea do not have any transport to get to Nenagh and he also spoke of the Roscrea based Gardai having to spend long hours in Court in Nenagh, which means they will not be available in Roscrea. 'I will be contacting Minister Shatter to ask him to reverse this decision,' declared the Fine Gael councillor.
Inside the Courthouse, Mr. Michael Breen, Solicitor, spoke on behalf of the members of the legal profession, saying that they were very dismayed at the decision to close the Court. 'The protest outside expresses the unanimous opposition to this decision,' he said. Mr. Breen said that the Courthouse was built in 1841 and has served the local people since. 'It is an integral part of society to have justice administered locally,' he said.
Mr. Breen said that the Roscrea Court serves not only the Roscrea area, but parts of South Offaly and West Laois. He pointed out that there is a very poor public transport service to Nenagh, which will add to the difficulties faced by people in getting there. 'This decision to save €8,000 makes no financial sense,' stated the Solicitor, and outlined that Roscrea Gardai will have to be in Nenagh for six to eight Court sitting a month, travelling there in the Garda patrol cars, which are currently a Toyota Corolla and a Ford Fiesta, and will be out of circulation in Roscrea for long periods.
Mr. Breen also raised the issue of family law cases, where parents with young children will find it extremely difficult to attend Court in Nenagh. 'This is a bad all round decision. I accept that the Government has to make brave decisions but some of those decisions are wrong. It is manifestly wrong to close Roscrea Court,' he stated.

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