Derry's courthouse to fully reopen

Proceedings have resumed at Derry's Bishop Street courthouse following a lengthy halt as a covid prevention measure.

Proceedings have been taking place in Coleraine since the pandemic.

Foyle Sinn Féin MLA Pádraig Delargy has welcomed the "belated" decision to fully reopen the Derry courthouse.

“‘I initially contacted the Department of Justice last September following complaints from constituents that they were routinely having to travel to Coleraine to complete their jury service,” Pádraig Delargy said. “I was told that this was due to covid and that proceedings couldn’t be returned to Derry on the basis that there wasn’t enough space to facilitate social distancing.

“That seemed an entirely illogical decision to me, given that other sectors from airplane travel to nightclubs had removed social distancing restrictions while the Department were still citing these outdated restrictions as their rationale for failing to return full jury trials to Derry.

“I continued to press the Department of Justice on this issue and I welcome the fact that the belated decision has now been taken to fully restore proceedings at Bishop Street courthouse, ending the needless inconvenience to jurors and others who need to use the facilities there.”