No courthouses to reopen for South or East Derry

It has been confirmed that both the Limavady and Magherafelt courthouses will not reopen despite calls from solicitors and the public alike.

Magherafelt court business is set to remain at Derry Magistrate's Court and all Coleraine and Limavady Magistrates’ Courts currently sitting in Ballymena will move to Coleraine Court from September 4 this year.

Limavady solicitor, Peter Jack of RG Connell and Sons, has been a solicitor for almost 40 years. Mr Jack said that whilst the move from Ballymena to Coleraine court is welcome, Limavady courthouse should be reopened as Limavady "fights centralisation".

"Ballymena was extremely difficult to get to for clients- getting there via public transport for 10:30 am was practically impossible. At least Coleraine is closer, albeit still rather difficult to get to as it is not in the city centre," he explained.

"However, Limavady is still not reopening and it should be. They wasted £100,000 keeping the place tidy for the last three years.

"They are hiding behind Covid regulations and it doesn't make any sense economically or otherwise."

Peter explained that there is nothing wrong with Limavady courthouse and it is a "fine building that has stood in the centre of town for 100 years".

Peter continued: "If they are ot going to use it as a courthouse, what are they going to use it for? Is it just going to sit there and gather dust and turn into a very expensive moth ball, a pub like the court at the bottom of Castlerock road, a movie set? It defies logic.

"Limavady has 12,000 people, we are big enough to have access to our own local courthouse. It is yet another example of meaningless and senseless centralisation. 

"It is a continuing slap in the face for Limavady. We are constantly ignored by central government. We are squeezed between Derry and Coleraine. We are fighting to have an identity of our own. Part of that identity is being able to access our local courthouse.

"Our hospital in the Roe Valley has been emasculated, our custody suite in our local police station has been ripped out and now our courthouse which is in the heart of the town has had a stake driven through it."

Solicitor, Stephen Atherton of John J McNally Solicitors in Magherafelt, has been a solicitor in Magherafelt for 20 years and said throughout that time, Magherafelt Court has faced numerous threats of closure by the Department of Justice.

Stephen explained: "I have led campaigns previously to keep the court open. We always managed to succeed. However, the emergence of lockdown in 2020, in my opinion, has given the Department of Justice the perfect opportunity and cover to close Magherafelt.

"I have been in meetings and asked for indication on behalf of my clients and the people of South Derry and Mid Ulster when Magherafelt Court would reopen and never got anything approaching a satisfactory answer.

"So, we are presently in a situation where people are being asked to travel from Magherafelt to Derry with, as far as I understand, no financial assistance.

"Many of my clients are from lower socioeconomic backgrounds so they find themselves out of pocket. With inflation rampant for the last two years, my clients are suffering."

Stephen explained that he feels particularly let down by the elected representatives for the people of South Derry. 

Stephen continued: "The representatives have remained silent on the issue, no-one to the best of my knowledge has led any form of challenge to the court service and the Department of Justice on behalf of their constituents.

"The people of South Derry and Mid Ulster are being done a disservice. In my opinion, they are being denied access to justice."

In response to the continuing closure of the Limavady and Magherafelt courthouses, the Department of Justice said that the courts continue to follow the latest safety guidance.

A spokesperson said: "During the Covid-19 pandemic, a number of measures were adopted in line with the latest public safety guidance throughout the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Services (NICTS) estate to ensure that courts and tribunals business could continue as safely as possible. 

"Reconfiguration works were completed in 15 Crown Court jury courtrooms across Northern Ireland to improve and modernise juror facilities and facilitate safe social distancing. 

"Non-jury Crown Court business returned to Bishop Street and Downpatrick last year and the refreshed NICTS venue safety guidance for Spring and Summer 2023, which issued in May of this year, has facilitated the return of Crown Court jury business to Derry and Downpatrick in September.

"All Coleraine and Limavady Magistrates’ Courts currently sitting in Ballymena will move to Coleraine Court 2 from 4 September 2023."