Longford-Westmeath Fine Gael TD, Gabrielle McFadden, has welcomed confirmation by the Courts Service that family law sittings will be retained in Athlone.
At a recent meeting of the Justice, Defence and Equality Committee, the Deputy raised concerns with the Courts Service about a proposal to transfer all family law work for Westmeath from Athlone Courthouse to St Loman's temporary courthouse in Mullingar.
“While the court in Mullingar itself is fit for purpose, the rest of the St Loman's building simply does not lend itself to family law cases which are very sensitive and delicate for all parties involved," Deputy McFadden said this week. "There are already five fit-for-purpose consultation rooms in Athlone and I strongly urged the Courts Service to reconsider any such proposal to transfer family law cases to Mullingar.
“Thankfully, common sense has prevailed and following further representations from myself, I am grateful that the head of operations of the Circuit and District Court has come back to me to confirm that family law sittings will be retained in Athlone.”
