A refurbished Castlebar courthouse will be officially opened by the Minister for Justice today.
The historic building has been restored and developed to modern courthouse standards at a cost of €12 million. The number of courtrooms has been increased from two to four. There are improved and extended public waiting areas, consultation rooms, practitioners' rooms, judges' chambers, holding cells and more court offices.
Video conferencing and digital recording have been installed, and there is a new IT system. There are facilities for victim support and the media, as well as lawyers and the public. The building now has universal access, which includes wheelchair users.
The courthouse, designed by architect George Papworth, was completed in 1822, and this footprint has been retained in the existing building. Additional land was bought from the county council to enable its extension.
In the 19th century the facade was totally remodelled in neo-classical Venetian style. From the start of the 20th century it was used by the local authority. This led to the loss of the central stair, the District Court interior and the front railings and gas lamps.
Castlebar courthouse has had its share of colourful cases. One of the best known, according to retired District Court judge and local historian, Judge John Garvin, was that of "Fighting Fitzgerald", tried for the murder of his father.
The family owned Turlough Park, and the son of the house, a famous duellist known as "Fighting Fitzgerald", had imprisoned his father in a bear-pit with a bear. Not surprisingly, the father died. "Fighting Fitzgerald" was convicted and sentenced to death. However, on the first two attempts to hang him the rope broke, and he was hanged on the third attempt. This is thought to have been the last hanging after a trial in Castlebar.