Historic Mayo courthouse saved from closure

by Tom Shiel

A 19th century courthouse, which was closed in 2013 after more than 150 years service, is about to spring back to life as a business centre and the main location for coroners’ courts in Co. Mayo.

Swinford Courthouse has been remodelled and refurbished in advance of the transfer of all inquest proceedings there from Castlebar Courthouse where hearings relating to the Coronial District of Mayo have traditionally been held.

However, inquests relating to North Mayo, where Dr. Eleanor Fitzgerald serves as coroner, will continue to be heard in Ballina Courthouse.

Pat O’Connor, coroner for the Coronial District of Mayo, confirmed at the weekend that further hearings of inquests relating to his district will be held in Swinford Courthouse.

The courthouse building was acquired by Mayo County Council from the Courts Service in 2014.

The first inquests at the new location are scheduled for Monday next, April 19.

It is understood that up to 10 inquests may be held that day, starting at 10 a.m.

This has been agreed following negotiations between Coroner O’Connor and officials in Mayo County Council and other stakeholders, particularly An Garda Síochána, and pathologists in Mayo University Hospital.

Apart from inquest hearings, the courthouse building will be used by start-up local businesses who will be allocated space in modern offices with all the requisite technology, including high speed broadband.

The project has been underway for some time though it has been delayed by the Covid epidemic.

Describing the imminent re-opening of the courthouse as ‘a good news story’, Mr. O’Connor said: “I welcome the development particularly in light of the fact it was widely believed that the building, once closed, would never see any court sittings again.

“It is a sign of optimism in the current economic difficulties which the country is facing that buildings are being re-opened and used for services that might have been lost to the community.”

Mr. O’Connor thanked all the local public representatives, particularly Councillors Neil Cruise and Michael Smyth, for their support and involvement in bringing the courthouse project to fruition.

On the day in 2013 that Swinford Courthouse was last used for civil and criminal courts, Mr. O’Connor, a solicitor, whose family roots in the legal life of Swinford stretch back to 1900, spoke passionately about the closure, describing it as ‘regrettable’ and ‘short-sighted’.

Pat O’Connor is a former President of the Law Society of Ireland.