Additional judge may be appointed to tackle backlog of Longford circuit court trials

Justice Minister Helen McEntee has hinted at the prospect of Longford being afforded an additional judge to deal with a growing backlog of Circuit Court trials brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

Minister McEntee said moves were afoot within her own department to determine what areas are in need of strengthening at local judicial level with those considerations expected to be determined by mid April.

The Fine Gael minister's comments come after Circuit Court Judge Keenan Johnson recently alluded to how Longford required a full time judge of its own to deal with a backlog of over 40 criminal trials.

In an interview with the Longford Leader, following her visit to the county last Tuesday, the Fine Gael minister said she was very much cognisant of the burden courts faced and would be closely examining the unease felt by senior members of the judiciary such as Judge Johnson.

“We have a body of work underway in the Department looking at the number of judges we have, the types of judges that we have, the types of courts and the judges within those and where potentially we could increase the number of judges, and the number of judges we need sitting in each of those courts, such as the Circuit Court,” she said.

“That work will be done hopefully by Easter and recommendations will be made to me and I will make sure that we will have a full plan in place following those recommendations.

“There is a need and an understanding and a knowledge that there is a need for additional judges and in certain areas and in certain courts.

“And I’ll be responding to that report as quickly as possible, obviously listening to the concerns of local judges in particular.”

Work of Longford Women’s Link Praised

Minister McEntee also vowed to tackle the growing calls for further domestic violence services in Longford following on from a recent announcement to provide eight refuge beds for alleged victims.

In hailing the work undertaken by Longford Women's Link, Ms McEntee said: "I am clear that what we outlined as a priority when we published the Tusla accommodation review is only a start, and that we must invest more in domestic abuse services in the coming years. And we will do so.”

Alongside the womens' community based organisation, the Meath East TD took in whistle stop visits to the Irish Prison Service headquarters, Longford garda station as well as holding talks with members from Longford Comhairle na nÓg under the auspices of the county's Local Community Safety Partnership initiative.

Minister McEntee expressed her delight at being able to engage with the county's local youth council while likewise talking up the merits of a broader strategy which held its first meeting last September.

"The Community Safety Partnerships will work because they recognise that keeping communities safe is not just the responsibility of An Garda Síochána – it is about our Gardaí working together with other State services, as well as across the community, to keep people safe," she said.

"That’s the strength of the Community Safety Partnerships – bringing everyone together to make Longford safer – and that’s why I believe they will work.”

More Gardai on the ground

Ms McEntee said the recent drive to swell the ranks of the Gardaí on a national level was one which would likely benefit counties like Longford over the coming months.

In singling out the work of fellow party member and Longford Senator Micheál Carrigy, Minister McEntee added: "While the allocation of resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, and I have no doubt that this will mean more Gardaí on the ground in Longford and Roscommon.

"I know the great work Gardaí in the division do, and I met many of them in Longford station to discuss their work, the challenges they face and I am confident they will be supported by new recruits."