Judge raises court sittings to combat rise in crime

A RECORD high number of criminal cases and a sharp increase in vandalism on a popular seaside town has prompted a judge to implement extra court sittings.

Last week Judge James McNulty announced his intention to increase the number of monthly court sittings in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, from two to three, starting on September 29.

His decision to deal exclusively with family law and health board matters at the extra sitting will free up other sittings to make inroads into criminal and public order cases.