In protest to the proposed closure of Enniskillen Courthouse a public meeting was held last year
THERE has been a broad welcome to the news that Enniskillen courthouse will not be axed but concern has been expressed that the venue has only been given a partial reprieve.
The Justice Minister had proposed that Enniskillen along with seven other “underused” courthouses across the North close as a way to save money in his department’s budget, cut by £75m.
David Ford has confirmed that six courthouses – Armagh, Ballymena, Limavady, Lisburn, Magherafelt and Strabane – will close but Enniskillen and Newtownards have been reprieved.
Speaking in the Assembly on Monday, Mr Ford said he had listened to “the strong arguments advanced in favour of Enniskillen” and decided that “it should be retained and become a hearing centre”.
This means that Enniskillen will remain open only on the two or three days a week when there is a court sitting and otherwise be closed outside of these times.
The proposed closure of Enniskillen courthouse would have resulted in Magistrates and Youth Court sittings being transferred to Omagh. The Department of Justice Consultation had stated that closing the courthouse could save £92,000 a year. It is thought that up to 20 people could have lost their jobs if the proposals came to pass.
Ulster Unionist MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Tom Elliott, expressed his relief that Mr Ford had listened to the strong case presented to him, for this vital service to remain in Enniskillen. However, he expressed concern that the courthouse will only have limited opening times.
He said: “When I met with the Justice Minister I relayed these concerns and told him how there was a feeling that Fermanagh was being stripped of many vital services and that if the court house were to close, many other things associated with the courthouse would also go. These included the closure of the custody suite, less police on the ground, the probation Board moving and serious difficulties for Women’s Aid, never mind the additional costs to the legal profession and offenders having to travel to Omagh.
“The original proposal to close Enniskillen was totally unrealistic and I am glad that common sense has prevailed. I hope that the limited opening for the courthouse is not a staging post to eventual closure, but that the future of Enniskillen courthouse can now be secured for many years to come,” Mr Elliot added.
His words were echoed by Independent Cllr Raymond Farrell, who while welcoming the decision to retain court services in Enniskillen, also expressed disappointment it will not be on a full time basis.
“I like many others put forward a robust case for the retention of legal services in the county as what had been origionally proposed made no sense whatsoever. It vexes me to see public services being hit hard in the county as it leaves a massive impact on the lives of our people,” he said.
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