Barristers called to a bar of a different sort

BARRISTERS in Co Clare are to be called to a bar with a difference after a pub became the new court venue for the east of the county.

The Courts Service yesterday confirmed those charged with a multiple of offences, including assaults, public order breaches and motoring offences, will beat a path to O’Donovan’s bar and restaurant at Ballina on the shores of Lough Derg from January 3.

From that date, court sittings for the east Clare area will begin in the pub on a trial basis.

It is understood the bar is the only licensed premises in the Courts Service’s western region used by the service as a court venue for Killaloe District Court.

Michael O’Donovan, publican, assured users of the court that the bar will not be open during court times.

“Oh God no. Not at all. The court sitting will take place in a private function room. There is a bar there, but it will be screened off while the court is on.”

Mr O’Donovan said soup will be provided by the business for the court users.

The deal between the Courts Service and O’Donovan’s followed an inspection by court officials of the venue.

A spokesman said: “O’Donovan’s bar and restaurant has been identified as a place for court sittings on a temporary basis. We are quite happy that we have identified reasonable facilities.”

The move will eliminate the need for court users to make the 64-mile round trip to Ennis they have been forced to take since September, when sittings were suspended after the previous venue, the Kincora Hotel, went into receivership.

“It was expensive for people travelling into Ennis and it is great to facilitate people here locally by staging the courts here,” said Mr O’Donovan yesterday.