Connick Brings New Ross Delegation To Meeting On Future Of New Ross Court

Local Fianna Fail TD Sean Connick brought a delegation from New Ross to a meeting with the Courts Services which he organised yesterday (Wednesday July 29th) to discuss the retention of New Ross District Court in New Ross. Deputy Connick was accompanied to the meeting in Naas by Martin Lawlor, representing the local legal profession, and Tom O’Shea and Benny Wall, representing Geraldine O’Hanrahan’s GAA Club. Deputy Connick has also received letters of support for his campaign to retain sittings of the District Court in New Ross from New Ross Town Council and New Ross Traders Association. He presented both of these letters in the meeting.

According to Deputy Connick: “I am very concerned about the proposal to move New Ross District Court to a venue outside of Wexford town. New Ross District Court now meets a minimum of three times per month. A move to Wexford will bring significant extra expense to court users, such as Gardai, defendants, solicitors and others. It would significantly reduce the amount of Gardai available in New Ross on each of these days. It would also cause difficulties for local court users who do not have access to private transport. They would now be required to take a bus from New Ross and to walk the two mile route from the bus station in Wexford to the Courthouse in Ardcavan.

The Courts Service has received a large cut in their operating budget and this has prompted the decision to relocate the District Court to Wexford. However we made a strong case in our meeting, which lasted over an hour and a half, for the retention of the District Court in New Ross while the existing courthouse is being renovated. We strongly pointed out the impact that this move would have on the town as well as the inconvenience it would cause to all local users of the District Court. We hope to be in a position to return to the Court Services shortly with proposals to retain District Court sittings in New Ross.”