COUPLES going through marital breakdown are no longer being given total privacy in the courts, a family law barrister claimed yesterday. She said they were being forced to mix with criminals and discuss private matters on public stairways and in courthouse foyers. There were no consultation rooms.
The barrister, who asked not to be identified, took the unusual step of issuing a statement to the press on behalf of colleagues and their clients.
She said many courts were in a disgraceful condition and she accused the Government of paying "lipservice" to the plight of already traumatised people, in many instances breaching the provisions of the Judicial Separation and Family Law Reform Act.
Section 32 of the Act states: "The Circuit Family Court shall sit to hear and determine proceedings in a different place or at different times or on different days from those on which the ordinary sittings of the Circuit Court are held."
If the Government had really wanted to protect privacy, which it was bound by the Act to do, it would have already provided the proper facilities.
Family law appeared to be very low down the list of Government priorities. There had been no improvement with the recent appointment of judges, who had merely filled existing vacancies.
With the introduction of divorce proceedings in the near future, the Government had an even greater duty to provide adequate family law court space with proper facilities.
She also criticised conditions at family law courts around the State.