Motion passed to pressure Ministers to upgrade Donegal Town Courthouse

Councillors of Donegal’s Municipal District passed a motion calling for national politicians to reinstate court services at Donegal Town Courthouse “as a matter of urgency.”

The Donegal MD Cathaoirleach, Micheál Naughton, and Cllr Noel Jordan, said the closure of the courthouse “beggars belief” and that it smelt “rotten” that the Office of Public Works (OPW) allowed Donegal Town Courthouse to get into a state where closure was necessary.

At October’s Donegal MD Meeting at Donegal Town, Cllr Naughton’s motion stated: “I am asking the Donegal MD to call on Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan TD, Minister for the OPW, Kevin Boxer Moran TD, and Donegal County Council to ensure the Donegal Town Courthouse is upgraded and that the court services are reinstated as a matter of urgency.”

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An official response by the MD Executive said: “Responsibility for the Donegal Town Courthouse building currently rests with the occupants of the building (i.e. the Court service and/or the Office of Public Works) who have full responsibility for all maintenance/repair, and/or upgrade of the building, etc.

“If the motion is adopted, the Donegal Municipal District will write to the Ministers referenced in the motion to convey the sentiments of the Members in relation to this issue.”

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Naughton put forward the case to adopt the motion, as he commented: “The service can not be lost to Donegal or the local community.

“There is a huge amount of history and heritage. Donegal Town is a heritage town, and the building is right at the heart of the town. The building is owned by Donegal County Council, and the OPW has the building and has been in charge of the court service there for the last number of years. I have spoken to the Minister and asked them to come to Donegal as a matter of urgency in relation to this issue. 

“The unfortunate thing is that there doesn’t seem to be any sense of urgency. There are no bus services for people from Killybegs, Carrick, or Glencolmcille to Ballyshannon. The court services have been in Donegal Town for a long time. It is a huge economic contribution to Donegal Town.

“I think it is very important that we are all united for the court services to stay in Donegal Town. We want this to stay in Donegal Town, and we can not afford to lose a service like this. 

“It beggars belief that this happens, and we will fight to the nail that we get court services in Donegal Town.”

When seconding the motion, Cllr Jordan stated: “My biggest worry is that we are the last to hear of these things. You see it in the papers. We lost an Education Training Board centre here not so long ago. The staff lost their jobs, and the first time they heard it was from service users.

“In this instance, the court services have asked the OPW for a number of years, but they let it go. It smells rotten that they let it go to such an extent. They knew about this. They let it go to a certain extent that they can not put people in there.

“My fear is that they deliberately did this. The fear is that they are going to move the Circuit Courts to Ballyshannon and then a number of court sittings in Sligo. It looks as if they have a decision made. I hope not. 

“Donegal Town can not lose another service, and it is disgusting to think that Donegal is at the bottom of the food chain. The OPW need to come out and make a statement because they have not. 

“I am sure there are a couple of buildings that could provide those services now. There is bound to be something in Donegal that could provide for a court sitting.”