This week in the Northern Ireland Assembly, Diana Armstrong MLA led an Adjournment Debate addressing growing concerns around access to justice and legal services in Fermanagh and South Tyrone.
Members from across the political spectrum voiced concern over the continued reduction in local court services in Enniskillen, along with the closure of custody suites, which have forced hearings and detentions to be centralised in towns such as Omagh and beyond. MLAs highlighted the significant barriers this creates for rural constituents, including long travel distances to access services, limited public transport, and the disproportionate impact on vulnerable individuals.
The cumulative pressure on local solicitors was also emphasised. As key providers of legal services and contributors to the local economy, solicitors in the region face increasing operational challenges including reduced legal infrastructure and rising costs of doing business.
The debate followed the region’s first ever Legal Townhall, hosted earlier in the year in Enniskillen by the Law Society of Northern Ireland. That event brought together members of the Fermanagh Solicitors Association with local political representatives to discuss a series of mounting challenges facing both legal practitioners and the communities they serve.
Speaking after the debate, Chair of the Fermanagh Solicitors Association, Brian Charity, said: “This debate is a crucial moment for access to justice in our region where rural solicitors are under immense strain, yet remain committed to serving our local communities. The Assembly’s engagement on this issue is a positive step, but what we need now is urgent action to restore and protect the essential justice infrastructure in our area to make justice accessible for all in our communities. Justice should not be determined by postcode – every citizen deserves fair access, regardless of where they live”.
The debate was met with cross-party support, with members expressing concern around the widening access to justice gap, particularly within rural communities. Calls were made on the Minister for Justice to review and restore justice infrastructure in the area, including local court hearings and police facilities to ensure fair and effective access to justice.
