Laois County Council prepared to buy site for courthouse

Laois County Council is prepared to buy a greenfield site to allow a new courthouse to be built away from Portlaoise town centre, the Leinster Express reports.

Councillors have ramped up pressure on the Courts Service, Office for Public Works and the Department of Justice to see through the construction of a new courthouse.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley moved a motion at this month’s meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District calling on the council to increase pressure on public agencies following a stabbing in the town centre.

She said the stabbing had “a direct connection to the courthouse”.

Cllr Stanley has also called for the two sites currently being considered for the new courthouse to be named.

Kieran Kehoe, director of services at Laois County Council, said the council would not identify the sites under consideration as it would be unfair to the landowners.

However, he added: “We are doing layouts for the OPW to put pressure on. We’re willing to go and buy the site if that’s what it takes.”