Plans to move court hearings in two Tipperary towns to Clonmel receives backlash

Plans to close Cashel and Carrick-on-Suir Courthouses in Tipperary from November and transfer their courts sittings to Clonmel are being strongly opposed by councillors representing both towns and their hinterlands.

In correspondence with former Cashel councillor and mayor Tom Wood released last week, Judge Brian O’Shea explained his decision to move court services at Cashel and Carrick-on-Suir courthouses to Clonmel, stating “the courthouses in question are gravely inadequate in terms of infrastructure and the business conducted therein”.

“The situation is no longer defensible,” he wrote. “It results in an inefficient use of resources, undermines the safety and dignity of those who appear before the court and stands in stark contrast to the basic requirements of a functioning, modern judicial system.”

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In relation to Cashel Courthouse, Judge O’Shea said the public toilets “are disgustingly unhygienic, the interior suffers from chronic dampness and the waiting spaces are cramped and unable to hold more than a small number of people.”

In a statement, the Courts Service said: “The District Judge assigned to District 21 covering east Cork, south Tipperary and west Waterford wrote to the Head of Circuit & District Court Operations in March indicating he is transferring district court sittings from Youghal to Dungarvan and from Cashel and Carrick-on-Suir to Clonmel.

The directions for the transfer issued pursuant to Section 27 (3) of the Courts of Justice Act and Order 2, Rule 1 (2) of the District Court Rules with effect from November 1 next.

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“Additionally, with effect from June 1 2025 there will be an extra sitting in district 21 on the second Friday of each month where cases from Youghal will be heard in Dungarvan.

“It is planned that this additional sitting will be for Child and Family Agency matters. Details of these changes among others, which are set out in Statutory Instrument Number 77 of 2025, can be found on the Courts Service website.

“The Courts Service has now commenced engaging with the various stakeholders such as legal practitioners, Gardaí, state solicitors, the Probation Service, the Irish Prison Service, local family law user representative groups, unions representing court staff and others to explore any possible impacts and unintended consequences of the proposed transfers.

“ Upon completion of this work, the Courts Service will report on its findings to the relevant district judge and make operational plans accordingly.”

Sinn Féin councillor for Carrick-on-Suir David Dunne and fellow Sinn Féin Cllr Annemarie Ryan, have strongly criticised the decision to close both courthouses and move their court sittings to Clonmel.

“Sinn Féin Tipperary will not support any further downgrading of court services in Tipperary" they said.

The Sinn Féin councillors pointed to public impact of the transfer of Tipperary District Court sittings from Tipperary Town to Nenagh Courthouse in 2020, a move that was meant to be temporary due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

“It means people from Tipperary town and hinterlands travelling to Nenagh, a round trip of 142km. Now the Court Service is planning on stripping Cashel and Carrick- on-Suir of their court sittings

"This is a further downgrading of our smaller towns. This retrograde decision removes gardai and solicitors from duties in their towns and places further burdens on those families attending court. This decision will also contribute towards decreased access for some to the service, as well as leaving significant heritage buildings vacant in town centres.

“We will oppose any moves to close Cashel and Carrick Courthouses and will continue to push for the reinstatement of the Tipperary Town court service.”

Cllr John O’Heney has also criticised the decision.

“In the last few days, I have held discussions with members of the legal community in Cashel and Tipperary Town to discuss the impact this will have on our area.

“While it is hard to argue with some of Judge O’Shea’s arguments that both Cashel and Carrick-on-Suir Courthouses are not fit for purpose, I strongly believe that this decision will have a negative impact on both towns.

“It is a point of immense pride to have a district court sit in your town.

“It is also a great boost for local businesses and the knock-on positive effect that can have in a town." He said they are now faced with a situation in south Tipperary where Clonmel Courthouse will be the only courthouse where district court sittings will take place in the entire area.

“This is unacceptable given the vast geography of the area. It will lead to greater travel times and ultimately additional costs for all that need to use our Court Services”

Independent Cashel Cllr Liam Browne made a plea for the plans to move Cashel District Court sittings to Clonmel to be resisted.

He said Cashel Courthouse closes, there will be a loss of business to the town. The courthouse building will be left derelict and he noted it is facing the now empty post office in Hogan Square.

“We’re constantly told we’re not short of money in Ireland, so we’ve no excuse for not maintaining protected and historic structures like the courthouse,” Cllr Browne added.