Trials in Limerick makes sense

GIVEN the huge backlog of murder and rape cases in Limerick, it would make sense for trials to be heard locally.

Rather than move dozens of gardaí and witnesses to Dublin for prolonged hearings, the proposal to transfer a High Court judge to Limerick warrants serious consideration.

Financially, the cost of moving a judge to Limerick would be a fraction of the expense of calling between 20 and 50 witnesses to Dublin.

When garda overtime is considered, the savings would be significant.

Even if plush Dromoland Castle served as a temporary court it would add nothing to the cost of accommodating judges, who are on a fixed rate of 210 per day.

With 15 murders on their books, recent abductions and killings have underlined the difficulties facing gardaí. They are compelled to spend too much time at court sessions in Dublin when they should be fighting crime on the streets of Limerick.

The alternative court proposal is eminently sensible.