Security fears over Cork courthouse plans

Gardaí and the Prison Service are in talks with the Courts Service over security concerns about a proposal to assign all Criminal Court sittings in Cork City to the Washington St courthouse.

The proposal envisages re- locating all District Court sittings to the western side of the city during a planned €21m upgrade of a court- house building at Anglesea St. Normally, Circuit Court civil and criminal matters along with High Court cases are dealt with in the old Washington St building which underwent major renovations to provide ultramodern facilities.

However, Garda sources have indicated concerns over prisoner movements within the Washington St courthouse, especially when the Cork Circuit Criminal Court sittings coincide with District Court sittings.