New court venue passes the bar exam

IT WAS not your typical venue for administrating justice — under disco lights at a licensed premises.

But after ending a desperate search for a new court venue, Killaloe District Court took up residence at O’Donovan’s Bar and Restaurant in Ballina yesterday, where Judge Aeneas McCarthy began hearing cases.

The disco lights were switched off and a screen was pulled down over the bar 10 metres from the judge’s bench, with the taps for Guinness, Heineken and Carlsberg and bottles of vodka and gin visible to the court attendees in the function room.

At the venue, Judge McCarthy looked down upon the gardaí, solicitors and court attendees from a raised stage normally reserved for bands performing at the venue.

It is understood the bar is the only licensed premises in the western region from Sligo to Clare that is used by the Courts Service as a court venue.

The move has put an end to people making the 64-mile round trip to Ennis they have been forced to take since September 2011, when court sittings were suspended after the Kincora Hotel went into receivership.

Having had the morning to experience the new surroundings, Judge McCarthy said at lunchtime yesterday that the venue was a temporary measure by the Courts Service, stating he found the venue “to be satisfactory”.

Solicitor Chris Lynch said that having the court in a room where there was a bar did not “make any difference”.

“The venue is fine. It is functional. I have sat in courts in a lot worse places. I have worked at a lot court venues where function rooms and community halls have been used down the years.”

The Limerick-based solicitor said bench warrants for people’s arrest were being issued at the Killaloe District Court sittings in Ennis as they couldn’t afford to travel to the court from Killaloe.

“I’m delighted the sittings are back in Killaloe as there was a major problem in people not being able to get to Ennis because there is no direct public transport link between Killaloe and Ennis.

“Effectively, people had no way of getting to Ennis because they can’t afford it. In their absence, bench warrants were being issued and for some people, it would have meant spending time in custody until they could be brought before an appropriate court.

“This happened to a number of my clients and is something that we anticipated. Now, the court is within walking distance for court users.

“Ideally, we would like the old courthouse restored, but this is the second best option.”

Publican Micheal O’Donovan said yesterday that he was happy with how yesterday’s court hearing went. He said: “As long as there are no problems and it runs smoothly, I don’t mind.”