Limavady Courthouse to permanently close

Limavady Courthouse is to permanently close following a public consultation, Justice Minister Naomi Long has said.

The building was temporarily closed in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic and did not reopen after restrictions were lifted.

It was last used for court business in March 2020, when it opened once a week for Adult Magistrates' Court proceedings, before those proceedings were moved to Coleraine Courthouse.

The decision follows a consultation on proposals to close the building and a "permanent reallocation" of court business to an alternative courthouse within the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS) estate.

According to the Department of Justice (DoJ), about 60% of those who responded to the consultation agreed that the proposal for the permanent closure and disposal of Limavady Courthouse was "reasonable and justified".

In a statement, Long said she had carefully considered all of the responses received before making the decision to proceed with the closure.

She said the move would allow NICTS to focus investment on improving facilities across its estate, providing improved user experience, value for money, resilience and sustainability.

The minister said the decision would also ensure that people in Limavady continued to have access to justice through what she described as "higher quality, safer, more modern and more accessible courthouse facilities".

Long thanked members of the public who took part in the consultation, saying their responses had helped inform the decision.

She added that the disposal of the courthouse would provide an opportunity for a new owner to invest in the landmark building and return it to active use.

East Londonderry MLA Claire Sugden, who previously stopped a proposal to close the courthouse while serving as justice minister, said a new community use should now be explored for the site, pointing to the work done in converting Bangor Courthouse into a new music venue.

"The decision I took at the time reflected concerns around access to justice, particularly for rural communities, and the wider impact of removing local services," Sugden said.

She said it was important that Limavady did not simply lose the building, adding: "Limavady Courthouse is an historic building in the heart of the town... it should not be left empty or allowed to deteriorate."

Sugdan said the department should now work with local representatives and organisations to explore a new use for the courthouse and keep it as an asset.