Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister Claire Sugden has announced court closures planned by her predecessor will no longer go ahead.

In a major U-turn for the Department of Justice, Ms Sugden said she would reverse former Justice Minister David Ford’s decision to shut courthouses in Armagh, Ballymena, Lisburn, Limavady, Magherafelt, and Strabane.

Any future plans will be subject to a new consultation process.

Explaining her decision, Ms Sugden said: “Having considered representations from the community and in light of a number of developments, including Lord Justice Gillen’s Review of Civil and Family Justice and the new Programme for Government focus on problem solving Justice, I do not consider that it would be appropriate to proceed with the proposed closures at this time.

“Recognising the need to rationalise the court estate, however, I must ensure that when moving forward we have sufficient flexibility to deliver better outcomes for the community through reform and innovation.

“I have asked the NI Courts and Tribunals Service, working with the Lord Chief Justice, to consider the requirements of the court estate in the context of a changing justice environment, mindful that facilities must meet the needs of those using our courts and in particular that the needs of victims and witnesses.”

The decision to keep the courthouses open was warmly welcomed by the Law Society of Northern Ireland.

John Guerin, president of the Law Society, said: “The Law Society welcomes the decision of the minister who has listened to the Law Society and to the wider community and acted on that. The Society has consistently maintained that courthouses are an integral and important part of local communities throughout Northern Ireland.”