IT looks like the future of Enniskillen Courthouse could be in the hands of the public. Fermanagh-south Tyrone MLAs Arlene Foster and Tom Elliott met with Justice Minister David Ford on Monday to discuss his plans to close the courthouse and move all business to Omagh.

“I brought to his attention the fact that Enniskillen served the whole of Fermanagh and that there would be severe hardship caused to defendants and victims of crime alike if the courthouse was removed,” Mrs. Foster told Stormont Files.

“Minister Ford indicated there had been no decision. There were eight courthouses marked for closure but he would look at each individually,” she said.

Mrs. Foster, a DUP Assembly Member, said the Minister told her “if the community came forward with ideas on revenue raising or revenue savings they would be looked at very carefully.” The Department of Justice will hold a public meeting at Enniskillen Courthouse on April 2.

“This is an important meeting and Minister Ford said he looked forward to a report back on it,” she said.

Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott told Minister Ford on Monday that moving all court business to Omagh would not work because the public transport timetable is not appropriate in Fermanagh for people living in west, south and east of the county.

Speaking to Stormont Files on Monday, Mr. Elliott said: “It could necessitate travel times, including transfer wait, of up to three hours. There is better direct access, especially for disabled users to Enniskillen Courthouse than there is to other courthouses, which are not proposed for closure.

“As demonstrated in the 2012 inspection report of the court estate it highlighted that Enniskillen was the cheapest court to have a hearing in. Given the cost effectiveness of holding courts in Enniskillen it would be more practical and positive to have more court hearings transferred here. In my meeting with the justice minister I emphasised that I would be using every possible effort to have the Enniskillen Courthouse retained,” he said.

The decision on the future of Enniskillen Courthouse will not be taken until later this year.