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Court business went on as normal in Ballyhaunis on Tuesday despite the expectation that the July sitting of the court would be the last one in the east Mayo venue, following a decision by the Court Service to close that courthouse and the one in Swinford in July.

Mr Patrick O’Connor, coroner for Mayo East, this week hit out at the decision of the Court Service to close both of the courthouses in Swinford and Ballyhaunis. In a statement made at inquests being held in Swinford on Tuesday this week, Mr O’Connor said that the decision is a “regrettable, retrograde, reactionary decision that will, in the long-term have profound consequences for County Mayo. Not only will there be job losses in solicitors’ offices but there will be a serious economic effect on the entire east Mayo region of which Swinford has been the principal market town for more than 200 years.”

There was shock and anger in Ballyhaunis District Court on Tuesday morning when it emerged that it would probably be the last time the court would sit in the town after over 150 years of administering justice in east Mayo. The news was later confirmed by the Court Service, although there was no definite date for the closure or decision on where the court will move to.

Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins this week said he has been informed by the Court Service that no decision has been taken in relation to the closure of Ballyhaunis Courthouse. Mr Higgins had taken the matter up with the Court Service at the request of Ballyhaunis Chamber.

All of the Swinford solicitors and their staff are challenging the evaluation criteria set out by the Courts Service in an effort to have at least one court in operation for east Mayo. At present, based on the flawed criteria and a lack of meaningful engagement with the local community, the closure is likely. It also comes at a time when Swinford Garda Station has been downgraded and the closure of the local Teagasc office is imminent.

Removing court sittings from Athenry and the overall downgrading of court services in East Galway is “disturbing” and “makes absolutely no sense”.

Couples under the age of 18 are more likely to have their marriage applications approved by a court in Westmeath than in any other county, according to figures published this week in the Court Service Annual Report.

There are no proposals to move the monthly court sittings out of Athenry, according to local Fianna Fail Deputy Noel Treacy, as plans are underway to construct a new courthouse in the town.

The Courts Service have informed Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny TD that the Court Service will continue to operate in Ballyhaunis until the new facility is available in Claremorris.

Mayo TD Beverley Flynn has called for the immediate restoration of District Court sittings to Ballinrobe. And she has demanded a full and credible explanation from the Court Service for the sudden decision to terminate court hearings in Ballinrobe and transfer them to Castlebar.