FACING THE CHOP…Limavady courthouse is under threat
COURTHOUSES in Co Derry are facing the chop over budget cuts.
The North’s Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan said he was very concerned about how budget cuts would affect the most vulnerable in society getting justice.
And he revealed that eight more court buildings were being earmarked for closure as part of a cost-cutting drive by the Department of Justice.
This evening it has been revealed that the future of Limavady and Magherafelt are hanging by a thread.
If they close as expected, all their court business will move to the main courthouse in Derry.
UUP Justice spokesperson Tom Elliott MLA has expressed his concern at proposals announced today by the Justice Minister to close Courthouses.
Others facing closure include Strabane, Enniskillen, Lisburn, Ards, Ballymena, and Armagh.
Mr Elliott said: “These proposals are deeply worrying and I am urgently seeking a meeting with the Justice Minister (David Ford).
“We already have a justice system that is renowned for delays and backlog, with some cases taking many months if not even years to come to trial.
“One can only imagine the impact which closing eight more courthouses will have on speeding up the justice process.
“There is no doubt that this closure decision is a direct consequence of recent ill-thought out budgets and rather than save money, I believe that the cost in terms of additional delays and backlogs, plus the limiting of many people’s access to justice will far outweigh any benefits.”