Courthouse in the dock over lack of use

Clare County Councillors have placed an old historic courthouse in Killaloe in the dock over its lack of use.

The Irish Courts Service was requested by councillors at a recent Killaloe Electoral Area meeting to outline its future plans for the old courthouse in the Cathedral town.
Councillors Cathal Crowe and Joe Cooney tabled separate but related motions highlighting the need for better use to be made of the building, which is currently used for storing council equipment.
Councillor Cooney asked if the courthouse could be made available to the Brian Ború 2014 Killaloe Community Project and other groups in the area.
“The old Killaloe courthouse is a fine structure of a building and all it needs is for money to be made available to have it refurbished. Money can be found for other projects, why not for Killaloe court house,” Councillor Cooney said.
“What has been done in Tulla could be done here. In Tulla, the courthouse also serves as a community hall,” he noted.
Councillor Cathal Crowe asked the Courts Service to consider opening up the building as a community amenity.
Stating court sittings are held on an infrequent basis, he pointed out the community could benefit from proper restoration.
Senior executive officer, Michael McNamara, stated the Courts Service informed the council that it intends to restore the building for use as a court venue but this is dependant on funding.
“They have given no indication to date of when they might be in a position to commence such works.
“The council would welcome the restoration of this fine building in the centre of the town and will request an update from the Courts Service as to their proposals at this stage.
“Clarification can also be sought from the Courts Service as regards other organisations using the building, but obviously any such organisations would need to have access to funding in view of the substantial work required to bring the building into a usable condition,” he said.
County Clare District Court, which has been held in County Tipperary since the mid 1990s, is to return to the Clare side of the River Shannon.
Killaloe District Court has been held in the function room of the Lakeside Hotel in Ballina since the old courthouse in Killaloe was closed in 1994. However, when the District Court resumed earlier this month, it returned to the Clare side of the River Shannon when it was held in the Kincora Hall Hotel, Killaloe.
There was some speculation that the Courts Service was considering moving the court to Ennis but recognised the need for hearings to remain in the area to accommodate gardaí and the public.