Fears Lismore Court service will be lost

Lismore District Court is to sit in Dungarvan from early May this year, according to the Courts Service, writes Katie Glavin.

Concerns were raised this week regarding the potential loss of Lismore Courthouse to the town, with news from the Courts Service that the facility is to be transferred to Dungarvan from May 3 'until further order'.

Speaking with The Avondhu, Cllr Declan Doocey noted that relevant professionals were notified of the potential closure of the facility approximately two weeks ago.

The topic was raised at this week’s meeting of the Dungarvan-Lismore District by local Cllr Doocey, who sought support in attempts to retain the service in the heritage town.

“We don’t want to lose it in Lismore, it’s a help to the town and the restaurants and it’s a help to the shops. We have a fine courthouse and we want to keep the use of that facility,” Cllr Doocey said.

MONTHLY SITTING

Following the meeting, The Avondhu received confirmation from a Courts Service spokesperson that consultations took place between the Courts Service and Judge O’Shea in relation to the business conducted in Lismore Court.

At present, the spokesperson noted, Lismore Court sits only one day per month.

“Following these consultations the Judge directed that for now, Lismore District Court would sit in Dungarvan: from 3/5/22 until further order,” the spokesperson said.

The reason behind this move is that there is currently ‘insufficient court business’ in Lismore to justify assigning a judge for a full day.

“This allows the court to hear a full day’s business in Dungarvan, including and beyond that which would be heard just in Lismore. It will also allow the best use of video technology in Dungarvan, which is in the next phase of courts to be given a technology upgrade, further adding to the efficiency of the numbers of cases heard,” the spokesperson added.

Pointing to the loss of court services in other West Waterford towns including Tallow and Cappoquin, Cllr Declan Doocey emphasised the importance of the Lismore facility and the large investment that was made into the Courthouse there to make it viable.

“There was a huge investment into Lismore Courthouse to make it suitable. It’s very well laid out, there’s great room there and there’s parking and toilets. It’s a prestigious honour for the community of Lismore to host the court. None of us wants to ever be in court, but we don’t want to lose it either,” Cllr Doocey informed

The Avondhu.

During the meeting on Monday, Cllr Doocey requested that the council write to the Courts Service and seek to influence them in retaining the Lismore service.

He also claimed that there is a high demand already on the Dungarvan Courthouse, which he stated was ‘backed-up’ with cases.

NEED TO ‘PUT UP THE FIGHT’

Cllr John Pratt stated that he had been in contact with Mallow District Court regarding the issue and stated that further investigation is required to determine whether the closure of court in Lismore is a fact, as there was no official announcement at the time of the Dungarvan-Lismore meeting, which took place on Monday.

“It would be an awful indictment to lose it. It is happening in Lismore maybe once a month but people are eating in the restaurants and spending locally, but I would hope that we can put up the fight and try to ensure that it continues going forward. There is an onus on all of us,” Cllr Pratt said.

Cllr James Tobin also supported comments made by fellow councillors and stated that now is the time to take action. He corroborated that there was no official decision at the time, however, stated that a decision on the matter is ‘pending’.

It was agreed that the Dungarvan-Lismore District would write to the county registrar in relation to the issue.