District court president revokes former judge's decision to close two Munster courthouses
Earlier this year, former Judge Brian O'Shea wrote to the Head of Circuit and District Court Operations, indicating that he was transferring the sittings in Cashel and Carrick-on-Suir district courts to Clonmel courthouse from November 1.
He had also indicated that he was to transfer sittings for Youghal district from the local courthouse to Dungarvan. Mr O'Shea, however, resigned from the bench in recent weeks to resume his barrister career.
A spokesman for the Courts Service confirmed that following his resignation, the President of the District Court, Judge Paul Kelly, revoked his direction to transfer court sittings from Cashel and Carrick-on-Suir courthouses.
'Judge O'Shea had previously revoked his direction regarding the transfer of court sittings from Youghal to Dungarvan.
"At the Judicial Planning Working Group (JPWG) steering committee meeting last week, the group highlighted as a priority that all districts will be examined as part of the proposed restructuring of District and Circuit Court boundaries.
"This is one of the key recommendations to deliver on from the JPWG report and will also be a key element in the implementation of the new Family Law Courts Act.'
Former mayor of Tipperary and local Fine Gael councillor in Cashel, Declan Burgess, has welcomed the decision by Mr Kelly. He described the decision as 'a major win for Cashel, Carrick-on-Suir, and for all who have campaigned to protect local access to justice'.
He said: 'From the outset, I made it clear that I totally opposed the closure of Cashel courthouse. It was a short-sighted move that ignored the needs of rural communities and the important role this facility plays in our justice system.
"In recent weeks, I actively engaged with the Courts Service and others, seeking clarity and urging them to reconsider the decision in light of Judge O'Shea's sudden resignation. I welcome Judge Kelly's intervention and leadership in restoring fairness to the process.'
He pledged to continue 'working to ensure it is invested in and maintained as a vital local service".
Communities in the two Tipperary towns, as well as Youghal, had been concerned about the decision to move the court hearings out of their towns because it would result in the absence of gardaí from their areas to attend hearings in Clonmel and Dungarvan.
Following the direction by Mr O'Shea in March, the Courts Service said it had commenced engagement with stakeholders, including legal practitioners, gardaí, State solicitors, the Probation Service, the Irish Prison Service, local family law user representative groups, and unions representing court staff.
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