Public meeting demands retention of court house

Dun Laoghaire residents and business people attended a packed meeting last week to demand the retention of their local court house.

The future of the court house is in doubt as it is the subject of a cost cutting review by the Courts Service.

The large attendance at the Royal Marine Hotel gathered to show their opposition against the possible closure.

The meeting was organised by the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Ratepayers’ Association in conjunction with local residents’ representative bodies.

A statement issued by the association ahead of the meeting said they hoped to present a united front for Dun Laoghaire in opposition to the suggested closure of the court house.

“The Courts Service is reviewing the continued existence of the district court and they have given a deadline for people and organisations to make submissions to them on the matter,

? the statement reads.

“Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has already voted unanimously against the court closure and virtually everybody in the town is similarly disposed.

?

A petition was launched at the meeting that will be taken up locally over the coming few months prior to the closing date for the receipt of submissions by the Courts Service.

“Local shops will be taking up signatures for the petition and everyone is invited to help keep our court house by signing,

? the association’s statement adds.

As reported previously in Southside People five practicing lawyers, who are also members of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, recently came together across party lines to call for the proposed closure to be stopped.

The five members, Cllr Jennifer Cuffe (FF), Cllr Liam Dockery (FF) and Cllr Barry Ward (FG), who are all practicing barristers; Cllr Richard Humphreys (Lab), who is a senior counsel; and Cllr Josepha Madigan (FG), who is a practicing solicitor, made a joint submission to the Courts Service on the issue.

In it, they wrote:

“Such is the strength of feeling on this issue that we have come together from across the political spectrum to express a united view that this closure must be cancelled.

“Many of us have appeared in Dún Laoghaire court house over the years and as practicing lawyers and local representatives we are in a particularly good position to comment on the damage the proposed closure will do.

?

According to the cross-party group, the closure will have a devastating impact on local solicitors’ firms in Dún Laoghaire.

They claim it will also have a severe and detrimental impact on the local economy.

The Dublin Solicitors Bar Association (DSBA) has also opposed the move.

In a previous statement to Southside People the Courts Service said the changes they were proposing were a

“once in a generation opportunity

? to improve the organisation and delivery of District Court business in Dublin.

“While it is fully accepted that the closure of any court office or venue whether in Dublin or elsewhere will inevitably cause inconvenience for some, these proposals will result in improved services for court users in offices and courtrooms which are fit for purpose, have facilities and support services that cannot be provided at suburban venues, and enable people to conduct their business with dignity and privacy,

? the Courts Service stated.