Dear member
Please see below press release issued by the Association regarding the recent announcement to “temporarily” close the Old Townhall Courthouse. The BSA was asked to meet with NICTS after the decision to close had been taken. The Association has raised a number of issues with NICTS arising from its decision and will keep members updated.
BELFAST SOLICITORS’ ASSOCIATION RESPONSE TO “TEMPORARY CLOSURE” OF OLD TOWNHALL COURT BUILDING
The Belfast Solicitors’ Association (BSA) is very concerned that the recent decision taken by the Northern Ireland Courts & Tribunal Service (NICTS) to “temporarily” close the Old Townhall Courthouse will have far reaching implications for those members of the public using the Youth, Family Proceedings and Domestic Proceedings courts in Belfast.
Firstly, this decision was made without any prior warning and/or consultation with the solicitors who practice in these courts. The BSA is disappointed that NICTS only sought to discuss the matter after the decision to close the building had been taken preventing our members from raising objections and bringing to the attention of NICTS the particular concerns that clients will have in moving these courts into the busiest court facility in Northern Ireland – Laganside Courts Complex.
Secondly, the BSA does not believe that the specific needs of those members of the public who attend the Youth Courts and Family Proceedings Courts in Belfast in particular can be adequately catered for within the main Laganside Courts Complex. Laganside Courts Complex has insufficient consultation rooms as it is for the existing court business, and will only become worse when these additional courts are scheduled to sit. Those involved in Family and Domestic Proceedings need the privacy of consultation rooms to discuss sensitive and highly personal information with legal advisors and other professionals who attend these courts; Laganside Courts Complex cannot adequately provide these facilities.
The proposed courtroom to accommodate the Youth Court in Laganside Courts Complex does not reflect best practice design/layout for youth courts. It is unclear where the young people in custody will be detained before appearing in court; but the BSA would have concerns if it is intended to detain young people for long periods in the main cellular area with other adult detainees.
There are inadequate child based/family friendly areas where those attending court with young children can wait. The building is too busy and the layout inadequate for this particularly vulnerable court user grouping.
The BSA also understands that one video link consultation booth used by practitioners to consult with those in custody will be removed.
Whilst NICTS have indicated that this closure is on a temporary basis, it is feared that it may have permanent effect given the current budgetary pressures. The BSA would like to engage with NICTS to try and ensure that the unavoidable impact on services/facilities for those attending the Youth, Family and Domestic Proceedings courts can be properly addressed.