A High Court judge has criticised claims by a Sinn Fein TD that judges are unwilling to travel outside of where they are based to hear cases as "concerning" and "ill informed".
Speaking as he managed the Central Criminal Court trial list today, Mr Justice Paul McDermott refuted claims made by Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny in Dáil Éireann last week that court facilities outside of Dublin are being underutilised because judges are not willing to travel outside of their area to hear cases and because of a shortage in the number of judges.
Mr Kenny, Sinn Féin's Justice Spokesman, made the comments when asking Minister for Justice Helen McEntee about additional judicial appointments.
In the Dáil last Thursday, Mr Kenny said there were new court buildings established a number of years ago in Limerick but said "most of the time, half of the courts there are not being used" and instead people were travelling to Dublin to access court services in the capital.
He said witnesses and victims of crime were having to get on a train and leave Limerick to go to Dublin when "adequate facilities are in place in their own city".
Mr Kenny said he had been told that one of the reasons for this is because "judges do not want to travel from where they are based".
However, at the Criminal Courts of Justice today, Mr Justice McDermott said it is "simply incorrect to say judges are not willing to travel".
He described the comments made by Mr Kenny as "concerning" and said it was "ill informed" to say that judges of the High Court are showing reluctance to travel to "Limerick or any other court".
"It's important to point out that judges are always willing to travel," Mr Justice McDermott said, adding in this session alone cases have been heard in Cork, Kilkenny, Monaghan and Tullamore.
He said Waterford will be coming on stream soon and trials will also take place in various other locations.
These venues are "actively sought out" by the Central Criminal Court so that cases can be heard, he added.
Mr Justice McDermott said there was "no question" of any judge of the High Court not willing to travel to hear a case. "In the specific case of Limerick, that court is not available and if it were available, we would travel there."
The courts are very aware of the "extreme distress" that these cases can cause for victims of crime, he said.
Mr Justice McDermott said the judges of the High Court are very anxious to reduce the lists and if a venue is available then "we will travel".
READ NEXT:
- Heavy rain to hit Ireland again with surprising temperatures in store
Irish hiker dies after ten meter fall in the Tramuntana Mountains in Mallorca
I'm A Celebrity returns in matter of weeks as show heads back to Australia
Social welfare October bank holiday payment date changes with some paid early
Peter Andre shows fallen bricks from roof as his house is struck by lightning
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
