Judge has regularly expressed criticism of Courts Service
But Neilan has always praised the work of local staff
Judge Neilan has made no attempt to hide his dissatisfaction with the Court Services over the past year. He has consistently stated that two court sittings a week are needed in Tullamore, Longford and Mullingar in order to deal with the volume of cases before him.
When the President of the District Court wrote to the Judge asking that court finish at 4.30pm, Judge Neilan accused the Court Services of being far removed from the reality of the situation on the ground. He also asked how he could possibly administer justice effectively in such a timeframe.
In July of 2007, Judge Neilan said he requested extra staff for Tullamore District Court. ?This court is not capable of dealing with, on any given day, the volume of business,? he told the gathering on that date.
Advising those in court to write to the Minister for Justice or the Court Services to complain, Judge Neilan said, ?I am sorry and I believe this sort of situation should be stopped. It seems to me the attitude is, forget the District Court?.
Complimenting the staff at the court on that date, he said, ?I know of no public servants who work as hard as the people who work with me here?.
Speaking during a sitting in Tullamore eleven days ago, Judge Neilan launched a broadside at the Court Services, who he claimed ?are totally incompetent as far as I am concerned?.
He called the current system a ?shambles? and asked whether there was anybody in the Court Services with a ?modicum of intelligence?.
These comments seem to have been the final straw for the Court Services who responded with a rare statement on the matter.
According to that statement, Judge Neilan has refused to meet with the Court Services to discuss proposals which would address significant population and demographic changes in the area.
The Court Services have said the ?vast majority of courts nationwide finish between 4pm and 5pm?. They stated that the letter sent to Judge Neilan was due to ?persistent late sittings in Judge Neilan?s District?.
One Tullamore-based solicitor, who declined to be named, agreed with Judge Neilan. He said that two sittings would be necessary if the volume of cases are to be heard in the timeframe allowed.
The solicitor said the situation was being replicated in the entire District Court 9 area. He also claimed other judges - who had taken court sittings in the area - had attempted to deal with the workload but faced similar problems.
