Legal News

Courts Service proposals for the reorganisation of Dublin District Courts, have attracted “considerable interest” according to Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald.  The Courts Service are proposing to close Tallaght, Balbriggan, Swords and Dun Laoghaire Courts, leaving the capital with only two Court venues – the Criminal  Courts of Justice in Dublin 8 and Blanchardstown Court House.  The “restructuring” of the Court’s Service is being attributed to “critical” staffing levels, with a 15% reduction in numbers since 2009.  Tallaght based criminal lawyer Michael Hennessey says the “ill thought out” proposals will create “huge problems for local people and will be damaging for Tallaght Village”.  Minister Fitzgerald said it is important that “all rationalisation decisions receive full and detailed consideration” including “consideration of the implications for the wider Justice sector and for the citizens who avail of the Courts”.  She continued “I welcome the consultative approach which is being adopted by the Courts Service in dealing with these proposals”.  The Courts Service accept the closure of Court Services in Dublin will “inevitably cause inconvenience” but the proposals “will result in improved services”.  The Courts Service will publish its proposals for the reorganisation of the Dublin District Courts in September.  There is an expected start date of January 2015 for the new arrangements, allowing for a six month leading period for planning and implementation.

A High Court action was settled by a senior fitness coach with Munster Rugby FC over an alleged attempt to make him redundant and have him replaced.

Darragh Heavey (25), a father of one, is charged with trespassing at Minister for Justice Alan Shatter’s Home, on the 18th of March last, at Delbrook Manor, Ballinteer, County Dublin, with intent to commit theft of two watches of unknown value belonging to Mr Shatter.

The man who claimed to have been assaulted by actor Woody Harrelson in a Dublin nightclub has settled his High Court action.

Mr Brendan Meehan (61), a truck driver, of Whitechurch Place, Ballyboden, Dublin has secured an award of €206,000 in damages at the High Court over an injury sustained during a delivery to Priority Construction Ltd, Clontarf Road, Dublin on the 10th of October 2009.

Giu Lu (24), Jin Ping Chen (26) and Zhen Jie Lin (24), all of no fixed abode, have been remanded in custody until next month for growing up to €800,000 worth of cannabis plants in Youghal, County Cork. The three men were arrested on the night of March 12th last after gardai discovered the cannabis operation at Unit 3 of the Springfield Industrial Estate in Youghal, County Cork. The men were charged with illegally cultivating cannabis.  After initially being brought to court in Carrick-on-Suir last week, the men were back in court in Cashel yesterday when the gardai applied for a further remand in custody.  Judge Terence Finn ordered the three men to be remanded in custody to appear again on the 4th of April before Dungarvan District Court. The men were assisted throughout the hearing by an interpreter.