‘This is an issue of fairness and access to justice’ – Call grows to rebalance court services in Wicklow
The Wicklow PeopleA Wicklow councillor is proposing a motion calling on the local authority to intervene directly in the long‑running dispute over the future of the historic Wicklow Courthouse.
The motion, brought forward by Cllr Graham Richmond, seeks to compel Wicklow County Council officials to engage with the Justice Minister and the Courts Service, after it emerged that the long‑closed courthouse is no longer being considered for future judicial use.
The development has reignited concern about the State’s failure to deliver court infrastructure in a county that has experienced significant population growth over the past decade.
Wicklow Courthouse has been closed since 2010, when plans were first announced to redevelop the protected building into a modern four‑court facility, with appropriate accommodation for staff, prisoners, meetings and accessibility.
At the time, the Courts Service estimated that the project would cost between €8 million and €10 million, and the redevelopment was repeatedly described as a priority.
In 2013, the agency publicly stated that Wicklow was next in line for investment once capital funding became available. Despite those commitments, no works were carried out, and the building has since fallen into dereliction.
The issue resurfaced in recent weeks after councillors were informed that the Courts Service are longer considering the courthouse as a viable location for future sittings.
That suggestion prompted Cllr Richmond to bring forward a motion seeking formal intervention by the council executive. He said the apparent withdrawal of support for the project represented a serious setback for Wicklow town and a failure to meet the needs of a county with a population now approaching 150,000 people.
“Wicklow has waited 16 years for action,” Cllr Richmond said in a statement.
“Successive commitments were made to reopen this courthouse, yet we are now being told, without proper consultation, that it will not return as a court at all. That is simply not acceptable for a county of our size.”
A feasibility study carried out by the Office of Public Works in 2024 estimated that full restoration of the courthouse would cost between €13 million and €17 million.
Cllr Richmond has questioned why these figures are now being used to justify abandoning the project, noting that significantly larger sums have been invested in court facilities in other counties.
Waterford Courthouse underwent a €26 million refurbishment in 2016, while Kilkenny Courthouse received €17 million in funding. Both counties have smaller populations than Wicklow.
The district Cathaoirleach also pointed to the example of County Louth, which has two Circuit Court venues, three District Courts and benefited from a €9 million new courthouse in Drogheda in 2017.
By contrast, Wicklow is currently served by just one operational Circuit Court in Bray and two District Court courthouses in Arklow and Bray. Cllr Richmond said the disparity highlighted a broader issue of fairness and access to justice.
“This is an issue of fairness and access to justice,” he said. “The imbalance between Wicklow and comparable counties is stark. People should not have to travel excessive distances or face delays in the courts simply because Wicklow has been overlooked when capital investment decisions are made.”
The concerns raised by Cllr Richmond have been echoed by the legal profession. The Wicklow Solicitors Bar Association has made a detailed submission to the Courts Service outlining the impact of the courthouse closure on practitioners and clients.
The association argues that the absence of a local courthouse contributes to delays, increases costs for those attending court and places unnecessary pressure on existing facilities elsewhere in the county.
Cllr Richmond’s motion calls for a review of the Courts Service capital plan to ensure that Wicklow’s needs are reassessed in light of population growth and the commitments previously made.
The motion also seeks clarity whether the courthouse has been definitively ruled out and, if so, what alternative options are being considered for the county town.
“The future of a protected national monument should not be separated from the justice needs of the county,” Cllr Richmond said. “Whether through redevelopment of the existing courthouse or a new purpose‑built facility, Wicklow needs additional court capacity, and it belongs in the county town.”
Cllr Richmond also highlighted the economic implications of the prolonged closure. He said a functioning courthouse would provide a sustained boost to Wicklow town’s local economy, supporting nearby businesses and increasing footfall.
He noted that commitments to reopen the courthouse have featured in multiple election cycles and that residents deserve transparency on why those commitments have not been honoured.
The issue is expected to feature prominently in upcoming council discussions, with local representatives indicating support for renewed engagement with national authorities.
Located in Market Square, Wicklow town, Wicklow Courthouse is a neoclassical ashlar stone building completed in 1824, which served as a judicial facility for nearly two centuries.
It also served as the meeting place for Wicklow County Council after the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898, until the council moved in 1977.
Several movie productions have also been shot inside the courthouse, including Evelyn released in 2002, and starring Pierce Brosnan, which used the building for several of its court scenes. While the main courthouse scenes for 1996’s Michael Collins included the general area of the courthouse for scenes.