LIMERICK District Court building is “not fit for purpose”, according to the presiding judge who has repeatedly criticised the facilities and the dangers posed in the courtroom.
Making his comments after a woman fell over a broken chair and its protruding seat bars, Judge Eugene O’Kelly said that the District Court building, which is housed adjacent to the city’s Civic Buildings, was unsafe and unsuitable to hold court.
Shortly after court commenced last Friday to hear road traffic matters, a woman who had pleaded guilty to a parking offence, tripped and fell over the broken chair causing her to hit her head off the ground.
Embarrassed and clearly upset, the woman tried to leave the court after her stumble but was unable to do so and other members of the public in the gallery went to her assistance.
Judge O’Kelly rose to allow the woman receive assistance, however when he returned he criticised the state of the courtroom and its conditions stating it was not fit for purpose and dangerous in parts.
He said that he was aware of three civil cases before the High Court concerning injures that were said to have occurred in the District Court building.
He then struck out the 19 remaining road traffic charges before the court after he confirmed that the defendants were in attendance to answer their cases.
This is not the first time that Judge O’Kelly has criticised the condition of the district court facilities as he previously called into question the cell area, expressing safety concerns about overcrowding and the placement of juvenile detainees near “violent and often feuding gang members”.
Reacting to the comments, a spokesperson for the Courts Service of Ireland said; “The Courts Service has been made aware of a member of the public having an accident at Limerick District Court last week, and have asked for details of same to be furnished.
“In the past three years there have been two matters raised legally with us about two similar issues in this courtroom. While the situation is far from ideal, we do not have any reports or understanding that it is hazardous.
“The Courts Service is working to progress the new Criminal Courts building for Limerick as part of a group of PPP projects which are in the advanced stages of planning currently,” the spokesman concluded.
While the offending chair has since been removed, the OPW has also been asked to investigate the Limerick District Court building.
