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31st March 2014 • Volume 21, Issue 12 • Leader House, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. • Tel: 8•400•200 • info@northcountyleader.ie
Fears For Future Of Local Courts Local solicitor and Fianna Fail candidate for Swords in the upcoming local elections, John Hennessy, has confirmed that the court services in both Swords and Balbriggan, are set to be wound up. Speaking to the County Leader, Hennessy said, “It has been made known to me that the Court Service has recommended the closure of Swords and Balbriggan courts, along with the one in Dun Laoghaire.” “This would be an absolute tragedy for the North County, should the District Courthouses at Swords and Balbriggan be closed. This is another example of a sharp knife being brought to bear on services in the North John Hennessy County, by this Fine Gael/ Labour government. Everything is now being centralised. It now means that the people of Swords and Balbriggan will now have to trek all the way to the Courts of Criminal Justice in Parkgate Street, to have small claims and family law cases heard. This is another example of services being taken away from our area. The presence of courts in Swords and Balbriggan generates economic activity in the area, where shops and other services benefit from the influx of people to the towns. “This is just another example of diminishing services in the North County area, following on from the closure of Garda stations. We need to stop this happening, before we turn our main streets into deserts. These towns are mushrooming in size, and there is no sense whatsoever in this move,” he said. He firmly believes that any savings to be made will be negligible. “I know for a fact that there is no mortgage due on Swords courthouse, and the paltry savings will be made up primarily of wages saved from the closure,” concluded an angry Hennessy. The County Leader contacted the Court Services in an attempt to throw some light on their plans. A spokesperson was less definite about the situation than Hennessy, when saying, “The Courts Service, during 2013, undertook a review of court services in the greater Dublin Area which included Swords and Balbriggan District Courts. The purpose of the review was to examine options to ensure that the Courts Service can continue to maintain an appropriate level of front line services to court users throughout Dublin city and county.” The statement continued, “The review is still under consideration by the Courts Service and no definitive proposals have been formulated in relation to any court venue being reviewed, including Swords and Balbriggan District Courts. No decision has been made to close any of these venues.” “Any proposal to change the status of Swords and Balbriggan District Courts would be subject to a comprehensive and detailed assessment. The criteria which would be taken into consideration would include an assessment of travelling distances, which court users might have to make to an alternative Court venue. This review would inform any future process for making proposals, and would then would become a matter for the Board of the Courts Service,” the statement concluded.
Local Politician, Daly Praised The performance of local TD, Clare Daly (ULA) in the lead up to the recent resignation of Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan, and the ongoing Garda whistleblower controversy, is one that many regard as crucial in the political fall-out that followed the affair. Swords based Daly has proved to be a powerful advocate in seeking justice in this controversy, to make sure that former Commissioner Callinan was held to account for his role in the affair, in which he used the word ‘disgusting’, when referring to the role of the whistleblowers. She also played a prominent role in keeping the pressure on Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter,
which ultimately culminated in an apology by him to the two Garda whistleblowers at the centre of the political storm.
By Patrick Finnegan Perhaps her finest hour came on Tuesday last, 25th March, when she appeared on RTE’s Morning Ireland programme. It was the day that Commissioner Callinan resigned, and many will wonder if Daly’s powerful contribution on that show contributed to the Commissioner’s demise. When asked on the show, if a simple, sincere apology from the Commissioner in respect of his remarks, would be acceptable, she said it was
“gone beyond the point where an apology would be genuine. She also called for reform of the Gardai, but this could not be achieved, without reform at the top. She said, “We need real democratic accountability of An Garda Siochana. It’s a little like having pyrite in our home. You can cover all the cracks and they will disappear for a while, but they’ll return, unless you eliminate the contaminated infill, and that’s what we have to do. It’s now time for Commissioner Callinan and Minister Shatter to go and let us have a discussion about the need for real accountability and oversight within the force,” she said. Many locals have told this newspaper of how proud they are, that one of their own TDs played a prominent role in such a major national event. Most fair minded people, without an agenda, believe that the unfolding developments are Continued on page 6
Working For You Councillor Ireland's rugby hero, Brian O'Driscoll is pictured with two year old Lucy Bellew and her dad Tony, from Swords, when members of the victorious Ireland Six Nations squad and the RBS Six Nations Championship trophy paid a visit to Temple Street Children's University Hospital.
Gerry
McGuire Tel: 087 2381980 e-mail: gerry.mcguire@fingal.ie
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