CLAIMS by Sinn Féin Justice spokesman Martin Kenny that judges are unwilling to travel to Limerick and other regional venue have been rejected by a senior member of the judiciary as “simply incorrect” .
Mr Justice Paul McDermott, who is in charge of several High Court lists including the Central Criminal Court, Special Criminal Court, Extradition and the Criminal Assets Bureau, said that whenever possible judges travel to all areas of the country to hear cases.
He said he had repeatedly requested that a court in Limerick be made available to the Central Criminal Court, and expressed frustration that it is “effectively excluded” from Limerick’s extensive court facilities.
According to The Irish Times, Mr Justice McDermott made his comments in a letter to the president of the High Court, copied to other Central Criminal Court judges and the chief executive of the Courts Service.
The letter was written in response to comments made by Deputy Kenny in the Dáil last Thursday when he asked Justice Minister Helen McEntee about additional judicial appointments.
The Leitrim TD said there were new court buildings in Limerick but, most of the time they were not being used and people were taking the train to Dublin when adequate facilities are in place in their own city to provide services.
“That situation is replicated in many areas around the country. I am told that a lot of that is because the judges do not want to travel from where they are based,” he added.
Minister McEntee replied that more judges were needed and she was committed to providing them.
