A JUDGE has heard court cases under disco lights at a licensed venue during the first sittings of Killaloe District Court at O’Donovan’s bar and restaurant.
Court users answered summonses to appear at O’Donovan’s bar and restaurant in Ballina, Co Tipperary, near the Clare border, yesterday following the Courts Service’s search for a new court venue for Killaloe. The service has struck a deal with publican Micheál O’Donovan.
At the venue yesterday, Judge Aeneas McCarthy heard details of late-night disorder and drink-driving offences in a place normally associated with disco-dancing and late-night revelling.
The disco lights were switched off and a screen was pulled down over the bar 10m from the judge’s bench.
Judge McCarthy looked down on gardaí, solicitors and court users from a raised stage normally reserved for bands.
It is understood the bar is the only licensed premises in the western region from Sligo to Clare used by the Courts Service as a court venue. The move by the service in identifying the bar for court sittings means court users no longer have to make the 64-mile round trip to Ennis, necessary since last September after sittings were suspended when the Kincora Hotel went into receivership.
After having had the morning to experience the new surroundings, Judge McCarthy said the venue was a temporary measure by the Courts Service, but that he found it to be “satisfactory”.
Solicitor Chris Lynch said that having the court in a room where there was a bar “doesn’t make any difference”.
“The venue is fine,” he said. “It is functional. I have sat in courts in a lot worse places. This is warm and clean and has capacity to fit the crowd.”
Mr Lynch added: “I have worked at a lot of court venues where function rooms and community halls have been used down the years.”
The Limerick-based solicitor said that bench warrants for arrests were being issued at the Killaloe District Court sittings in Ennis as they could not afford to travel to the court from Killaloe.
“I’m delighted the sittings are back in Killaloe,” Mr Lynch added, “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,” Mr Lynch said. “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.”
Mr O’Donovan said yesterday that he was happy with how yesterday’s court hearing went. “As long as there are no problems and it runs smoothly, I don’t mind.”
