Limavady Courthouse to close permanently after public consultation, Naomi Long confirms

Limavady Courthouse will close permanently, Justice Minister Naomi Long has confirmed, following a public consultation on the building's future.

The courthouse has not handled court business since March 2020, when it opened one day a week for Adult Magistrates' Court proceedings. Those cases were later transferred to Coleraine Courthouse. It was initially closed temporarily during the Covid-19 pandemic and did not reopen after restrictions were lifted.

The decision clears the way for a permanent reallocation of its court business to another courthouse within the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS) estate, and for the building to be disposed of.

According to the Department of Justice, about 60% of consultation respondents agreed that permanent closure and disposal was reasonable and justified. Long said she carefully considered all responses before deciding to proceed.

The minister said the move would let NICTS focus investment on improving facilities across its estate, with an emphasis on user experience, value for money, resilience and sustainability. She added that people in Limavady would continue to have access to justice through what she described as higher quality, safer, more modern and more accessible courthouse facilities.

Long thanked members of the public who took part in the consultation, saying their feedback helped inform the decision. She also said disposing of the courthouse could give a new owner the chance to invest in the landmark building and bring it back into active use.

For Limavady, the closure ends years of uncertainty over a building that has not been used for court business since the early days of the pandemic. The case also reflects wider pressure on courts services across Northern Ireland to consolidate resources and modernise facilities, though losing a local courthouse may mean longer travel for some residents with business before the courts.