The victims of serious crime are being made to wait up to three years for justice as Galway’s limited court facilities make it impossible to get to grips with ever-lengthening Circuit Court lists.

And, according to the county’s legal professionals, the situation is becoming increasingly frustrating as a long-promised and much-needed new Courthouse for Galway made no progress.

Due to an explosion in the number of cases being sent for trial at Galway Circuit Criminal Court, the wait for a trial date is anything between 24 and 36 months, the Connacht Tribune has learned.

A spokesperson for the Courts Services confirmed that the number of cases for trial had increased by a third over twelve months, putting increasing strain on Galway Courthouse’s limited infrastructure.

“This waiting period reflects the fact that in 2021, there was a 33% increase in new cases for trial in Galway. The Courts Service will keep the waiting times under review, but is mindful of the lack of availability of extra courtrooms in the current building [at Courthouse Square in Galway City], in which we might organise any extra sittings,” said the spokesperson.

Meanwhile, members of the legal profession were reporting significant delays in getting cases heard and John Martin, President of the Galway Solicitors’ Bar Association, said victims of crime and litigants were hugely frustrated as they were forced to wait years to have their cases finalised.

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