SDLP representative Daniel McCrossan
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan has said that Justice Minister David Ford’s dogged determination to close Strabane courthouse flies in the face of the needs of local people and the local legal profession.
Strabane courthouse is one of three in the North West the Justice Minister said will be closing for good in the summer to save a total of £1.1 million a year.
The other two are Magherafelt and Limavady
Said Mr McCrossan said: “David Ford stood in the Assembly today armed with clever remarks but utterly lacking in an ounce of understanding about the effect of his pronouncement that a number of court houses across the North will close.
“Key amongst those that now face the Justice Minister’s axe is Strabane Court House, the closure of which has been the subject of his dogged determination for a number of years.
“I have stood with the people of Strabane and the legal profession based here through previous attempts to strip our town of a court house.
“We will continue to oppose these moves which will not only disenfranchise those seeking justice here but will also manufacture an additional burden as the overflow transfers to Omagh.
“It is becoming increasingly clear that Strabane is being starved of public service investment and those services which we do have are being gradually dismantled.
“That is not acceptable to me or to the people I represent.
“We will continue to oppose the Justice Minister’s plans and I would call on him to urgently reconsider.”