Last ditch attempt 
to avoid closure

A delegation from Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council have met with the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service, Ronnie Armour, in a last ditch attempt to save Lisburn Courthouse from closure.
A delegation of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Members met the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service to continue to lobby against the potential closure of Lisburn Courthouse.  Pictured are: (l-r) Peter Luney, Head of Court Operations; Councillor Vasundhara Kamble; Alderman James Tinsley; and Ronnie Armour, NICTS Chief Executive.A delegation of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Members met the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service to continue to lobby against the potential closure of Lisburn Courthouse.  Pictured are: (l-r) Peter Luney, Head of Court Operations; Councillor Vasundhara Kamble; Alderman James Tinsley; and Ronnie Armour, NICTS Chief Executive.
A delegation of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Members met the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service to continue to lobby against the potential closure of Lisburn Courthouse. Pictured are: (l-r) Peter Luney, Head of Court Operations; Councillor Vasundhara Kamble; Alderman James Tinsley; and Ronnie Armour, NICTS Chief Executive.

Councillor Vasundhara Kamble and Alderman James Tinsley also met with Peter Luney, Head of Court Operations, to press the case for the retention of the city’s court,

Mr Tinsley, Chairman of Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council’s Corporate Services Committee, said that the Council would continue to press for the retention of the Court and pointed out that if the proposed closure goes ahead, Lisburn will be the only city in Europe without a courthouse within its boundary lines,

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Despite previous representations from the Council, as well as Lisburn solicitors and members of the public, the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS) recently went ahead with its recommendation to Stormont’s Justice Committee that the proposed closure of Lisburn courthouse should go ahead.

Alderman James Tinsley, Chairman of the Council’s Corporate Services Committee, speaking about the recent meeting, said: “The Council was disappointed that following its presentation to the Justice Committee in the summer that 
the Minister is still 
minded to close Lisburn Courthouse.

“It will continue to lobby the Minister and his department to emphasise the economic importance of keeping the City’s courthouse open.

“Should our courthouse be closed Lisburn would be the only city in Europe to not have its own courthouse within its boundary.”