Justice Minister urged to stop closure of Four Courts restaurant

The public restaurant, which has operated for more than 40 years and employs nine staff, is due to be closed at the end of this month. It is thought that the space will be used for offices.

The Four Courts complex is owned by the Office of Public Works (OPW), whose main tenant is the Courts Service.

Paul McGarry SC, Chairman of the Bar Council, said he was “very concerned about the effect this will have on people as a visit to the courts is never an experience without stress or difficulty”.

Director General of the Law Society, Ken Murphy, said he had written to Mr Flanagan, calling on him to stop this
“act of indifference to the public”.

A private restaurant, only for barristers, will remain open and so too will a small coffee shop.

An OPW spokesman said the closure was due to go ahead on 31 July “as agreed between both parties”.