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A DECISION on a new Courthouse in Tralee has yet to be made, after Sinn Féin TD for Kerry, Pa Daly, issued a question on the matter to the Minister for Justice this week.
Deputy Daly asked Minister Helen McEntee about the options explored in relation to the socially-distanced swearing in of juries for trials in Tralee Courthouse; if any venues were examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
In relation to the possibility of a new venue for a courthouse, the Minister replied that; “discussions between the Courts Service and Kerry County Council regarding the Island of Geese site have been ongoing since mid-2018 and the site, as well as other options, remain under consideration. The Courts Service would like to expedite the issue as quickly as possible, which will require the approval of the elected members of Kerry County Council. It will be a matter for the Courts Service to decide on the final location of the Tralee Courthouse.”
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Deputy Daly said that with an extra amount of effort and imagination, a renovation of the existing courthouse, which has served the town well for generations, could contribute towards the regeneration of the town centre.
“Moving the courts to the Island of Geese/Denny Site would be unnecessary, expensive and would not be of any additional benefit to the town of Tralee,” he said. “I am heartened to hear that other options are being explored and I urge Kerry County Council to demand renovation as the preferred option.”
Deputy Daly also condemned a lack of imagination and flexibility on the part of the Courts Service and the Department of Justice in relation to the current operations in Tralee Courthouse.
“In a response to my parliamentary question asking what efforts had been made to source alternative buildings to swear in juries and keep the trials local, the Minister for Justice stated that Kerry Circuit Court Criminal Trials are currently being heard in Limerick. This however forces witnesses, complainants, defendants and their families to travel outside the county and it removes members of An Garda Síochána from County Kerry for weeks on end.
“The reply from the Court Services about capacity in Tralee, which they maintain necessitated the move, shows a lack of imagination and flexibility. The use of sportshalls for swearing in of juries or use of technology to reduce the number of witnesses who have to attend proceedings could and should be looked at.”
The only way I can see the historic Tralee Courthouse being used in the future if the roof was to come off and they built up. Architecture has merged the modern with the historical very successfully time and time again. However, it would be expensive.
Moving the courts to the Island of Geese/Denny Site would make a lot of common sense as it would be modern purpose built courthouse fit for the future located directly across from the Garda station. Indeed, even parking for an Garda Síochána could be sorted for once and for all!
The greatest opportunity is the town gaining a great historical building like the historical Courthouse and them doing nothing or losing a once in a lifetime opportunity to capitalise on it for Tralee.
I have seen a lot of comments about it becoming an Arts centre! However, almost every village in Ireland has one and if Tralee want to be a city, it should imitate cities not villages!
Hence, I say have more than one museum, cities have mutable museums to attract tourism and do something no one else can offer, a Rose of Tralee Museum.
I think it’s a bit rich of Deputy Daly to criticise the Court Services for their amount of effort and imagination when they simply disagree with is logic, as do I. Rose of Tralee Museum.
As a Rose of Tralee Museum along with moving the court to the Island of Geese/Denny Site would result in added to Tralee town centre as there would be added infrastructure in the form of another museum which is another tourist attraction and more jobs for the town centre! you think a good politician would see this vision?
Keep the Historical courthouse there and you lose that opportunity for Tralee!
Is it any wonder why Tralee if in a state of 2 steps forward, 1 step back!
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