Lack of transparency re District Court proceedings

leitrimjohn

Looked on Courts.ie, no listing

Called the Court Office and was told there was no formal listing of cases or judgements.

If I wanted to find out about a case in which I have an interest, I have to attend court

at the start of each day it sits.

Anyone know why checking such info is so diffcult or if there are easy ways to obtain that info?

coylemj

The District Court is all about volume and throughput. Listing cases and putting the details online would take time and resources which are not available. And would cost a packet. Your inconvenience is regrettable but there is very little demand for what you're looking for.

Claw Hammer

the inputting is already done. The courts service hasn't developed an online application to use the date in their system and make some of it publicly available. There is a system for the High Court but not for the other courts. Even then the High Court system does not say what happened on each occasion the matter was listed unless a written judgement is delivered.

leitrimjohn

Cheers, everyone. Absurdly convuluted system IMHO

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HeidiHeidi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121765595#Comment_121765595

All courts are open to the public apart from juvenile courts, rape cases and certain other sensitive cases that are held in camera. Nothing stopping you wandering in for a look.

leitrimjohn

Asked a friend who works for the local paper for help. He just told me that the case will come up in a special sitting of District Court late next week. He remarked that it's very unusual for planning enforcement cases like this to merit a special sitting.

RurtBeynolds

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121638766#Comment_121638766

Unless it's all currently paper based then I don't see what the big deal would be with having it available online.

leitrimjohn

Defendants were found guilty and are now appealing which means they will be going to Circuit Court.

Anyone know if circuit court listings are available on line before the court sits?

Try and get information out of the court office and you'd think we were living in Pyongyang

Claw Hammer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122067080#Comment_122067080

http://legaldiary.courts.ie/

http://legaldiary.courts.ie/circuit-court

Look up the circuit the case is in under District Court Appeals

Victor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121765560#Comment_121765560

The obligations on the courts are that they should apply the law, be public (specific reasons aside), and be fair and largely consistent.

There is no obligation to be transparent to third parties. In fact third parties have relatively few rights at all. The parties to a case are notified of the dates and places that involved their cases.

Claw Hammer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122076510#Comment_122076510

Justice has to be administered in public, under the Constitution.
Not only must Justice be done Justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done”. This dictum was laid down by Lord Hewart, the then Lord Chief Justice of England in the case of Rex v. Sussex Justices, [1924] 1 KB 256

Victor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122076704#Comment_122076704

How is that any different to what I said?

leitrimjohn

Thanks everyone for your advice