The controversial news this summer that the Courts Service was to close the court houses in Swinford and Ballyhaunis led to fears that the closure of those courts would see a further centralising of the administration of justice into Castlebar. Both court houses are due to close at the end of the year, but this week Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin has said that district court business, such as criminal, licensing, and civil cases from Swinford will move to Ballina rather than to Castlebar as first expected. Mulherin welcomed the decision of the Courts Service to amalgamate Swinford District Court with Ballina which she said should ensure the future viability of Ballina District Court Office.
The Ballina based Dáil deputy said that she had requested the Courts Service to review its initial decision to move the administration of the Swinford court to Castlebar.
In July, Deputy Mulherin, a solicitor herself, challenged the closure of courthouses at Swinford and Ballyhaunis and requested Courts Service to review its consequent decision that the business of both courts would then take place at Castlebar Courthouse instead of Ballina Courthouse which administers Swinford Court at the moment.
Deputy Mulherin said: "The Courts Service decision would have involved the removal of this work from Ballina District Court Office to Castlebar. The Courts Service agreed to the review following my appeal and has now just confirmed that Swinford District Court will be amalgamated with Ballina. In effect this means that the business and administration of Swinford District Court will in future take place at Ballina courthouse and not Castlebar. And while I am extremely disappointed at the closure of Swinford District Court, this is very good news for future viability of the very efficient Ballina District Court office and staff working there. Such change of mind of Court Services is rare but a compelling case was made and I am delighted with the outcome."
Deputy Mulherin said that she consulted with stakeholders in the District Court Office, the local gardai, solicitors, and community representatives in Ballina and Swinford, before seeking the review by the Courts Service, and that in her appeal letter to the Courts Service, Deputy Mulherin set out in detail the reasons why the business of Swinford District Court should be transferred to Ballina.
The difficulties the closure of courthouses in rural counties bring, particularly in light of the real paucity of a public transport services for someone who does not have a car and has to travel a distance to court, was another major key point of her argument to have the business of the court moved to Ballina rather than Castlebar. “From the point of view of these stakeholders the overturning of this decision by Courts Service is only common sense,” Deputy Mulherin concluded.
