Anger at Kilcock court rumours
Kilcock locals have reacted angrily to suggestions that the fortnightly court sitting in the town could be moved to Naas.
But a spokesperson for the Court Service has said that while a review of court locations is ongoing, there has been no decision made on the matter.
"There is rumblings that the court sitting in Kilcock is going to be withdrawn back to Naas," local Councillor Liam Doyle told the Leinster Leader. "That would be a very detrimental step for the town of Kilcock," he said. "Kilcock needs the business that it brings in."
He also said that relocating the court sitting back to Naas would be a retrograde step. "Parking facilities in Naas are atrocious – and there is no public transport service from Kilcock to Naas.
"It would put the people of the area at a futher disadvantage."
The councillor said that he had, in the past, suggested the court service look at the possibility of relocating within Kilcock to the GAA centre. "It is lying empty at that time during the day. It has full car parking facilities and it has a hall capable of catering for the people of the court.
"I'm sure that the committee of the GAA would be open to discussions on making their facilities available to the court services, until such time as new facilities could be provided within the confines of the town."
And Kilcock Business Association also waded in on the issue saying that it had come to their "notice that the Court Services are considering relocating Kilcock court to Naas.
"As an association representing the local businesses and community we are most concerned about this. This move will have huge negative implications on Leixlip, Maynooth, Kilcock, Newtown, Tirmohan, Johnstown Bridge and Carbury."
One of their objections to the move was what it would do for policing security in the area.
"On a given court day in Kilcock Court, up to 10 Garda patrol cars are visible during the day.
"As Kilcock is a central point for the above mentioned towns, these cars are available to respond to an emergency in the Garda district in the minimum amount of time.
"If this bank of cars were attending a court in Naas the response time would be insufficient due to the distance that has to be travelled.
"Security and protection of the entire community will be compromised due to the lack of Garda presence in the area and the extra response time to an emergency," they pointed out in a statement.
"If the move takes place Kilcock station will remain closed on a court day whereas under the present situation the station in Kilcock is able to remain open. The local Garda can be flexible on court days to keep the station open."
The Association also echoed Cllr. Doyle's point about public transport. "Parties involved will have to travel into Dublin and then out to Naas. This will involve extra costs and time loss from work."
They pointed out that Kilcock is the ideal central location with bus, train and parking at its doorstep.
And it "remains the only courthouse on the N4/M4 from Cloverhill to Mullingar, and it is essential that it remains to cover this area.
"As the Kilcock Business Association, we must also represent our members and therefore point out the revenue that would be lost to businesses in Kilcock.
"We are asking that the court service please let sense prevail and keep an ideal set-up open in the interest of the public and community regarding safety, protection and business, and keep this important facility in Kilcock where it has remained for so many years."
The spokesperson for the court service said that while court locations were under review, no decision had been made on the matter.
He added that the proposed building of a new courthouse in Maynooth was being pursued, subject to funding availability.
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Weather for Naas, Ireland
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 7 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 7 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North east
