Just 3 in 100 go to Strabane court on bus

Justice Minister David Ford was asked what impact the closure of the NW courthouse would have on poor people forced to travel to more distant courthouses in future.

He stated: “Defendants attending court hearings are responsible for their own travel arrangements. Data on the socio-economic background of defendants appearing at Magistrates’ Courts is not collected, however, information collected through Exit Surveys in 2011 indicated that on the day of the survey, 84 per cent of court users attending Magherafelt Courthouse used private transport while 1 per cent used public transport.

“Seventy-six per cent of court users attending Strabane Courthouse used private transport to get to court and 3 per cent used public transport.

“The availability of public transport and associated cost has been considered and will inform the analysis of consultee responses.”