Solicitor standing in election criticises North Dublin court facilities

A solicitor and election candidate has criticised a package of investment in Ireland’s courthouses for overlooking courts under pressure in north Dublin.

Around €10 million was allocated to the refurbishment of court buildings as part of a €875 million capital funding package for the justice sector, announced by Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald earlier this month.

However, the funds will not be spent on “the work that’s required on North Dublin’s court facilities”, according to Lorraine Clifford-Lee, a self-employed family law solicitor.

Ms Clifford-Lee said the Swords and Balbriggan courthouses are “quickly becoming unsuitable in terms of both space and facilities” because of an increase in cases and a growing population.

She added: “The cost of a basic upgrade and expansion would be minimal and yet the Capital Plan announced last week makes no mention of the works needed at our local courthouses.”

Ms Clifford-Lee is standing in Dublin Fingal as a Fianna Fáil candidate in Ireland’s upcoming general election.

She continued: “As a family law solicitor, I have attended both Balbriggan and Swords courthouses on several occasions for a number of cases involving children and families in difficulty.

“Given the sensitivity of these cases, particular facilities are required to provide privacy to the children and families involved and to ease their distress as they go through difficult legal proceedings. A basic expansion could provide much needed meeting areas for solicitors and judges to meet with children and families in private.

“With the surge in demand and the sheer number of cases going through the courts, a basic expansion of the facilities is badly needed.”