New courthouse call

GARDAI and solicitors have called for a new courthouse for Laois, following confirmation of the closure of Portarlington court.

The two groups made the call about a new facility for Portlaoise following the announcement, which has been greeted with shock in Port. There is also “huge concern” among rank and file gardai that a concentration of all court cases in Portlaoise will put huge pressure on the security of prisoners and garda manpower.

For more see this week’s Leinster Express