Armagh Courthouse
Encyclopedia
Armagh Courthouse is situated in Armagh
, Northern Ireland
and is home to Armagh Magistrate
courts and also a County
and Crown court
.
It deals mainly with magistrates’ court business for the Petty Sessions District of Armagh, including adult and youth criminal and domestic proceedings business. The Courthouse is also used by county court and district judges use the Courthouse for a range of civil business. In 2005 there were 7 members of staff.
, who was also responsible for designing the General Post Office
in Dublin.
Armagh courthouse underwent complete reconstruction in the mid-1960s and by 1971 plasterwork, staircase, balusters and most of the woodwork had been replaced. Further restorative work was carried out after 3 September 1993 when a 1000 lb bomb
exploded directly outside the courthouse causing major structural damage to the roof, façade and walls. The main courtrooms were damaged and in the force of the blast one of the pillars was moved back a full 9 inches. Courtrooms were refurbished and a new 3-storey extension was added to the rear. An extensive programme of reconstruction and enlargement costing £8 million ensued and on 15 January 1999 the courthouse was officially opened by the Lord Chancellor
.
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and is home to Armagh Magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
courts and also a County
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
and Crown court
Crown Court
The Crown Court of England and Wales is, together with the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal, one of the constituent parts of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
.
It deals mainly with magistrates’ court business for the Petty Sessions District of Armagh, including adult and youth criminal and domestic proceedings business. The Courthouse is also used by county court and district judges use the Courthouse for a range of civil business. In 2005 there were 7 members of staff.
History
The courthouse was built between 1806 and 1809 and was designed by Francis JohnstonFrancis Johnston (architect)
See Francis Johnson for English architect of similar name.Francis Johnston was an Irish architect, best known for building the General Post Office on O’Connell Street, Dublin.-Life:...
, who was also responsible for designing the General Post Office
General Post Office (Dublin)
The General Post Office ' in Dublin is the headquarters of the Irish postal service, An Post, and Dublin's principal post office...
in Dublin.
Armagh courthouse underwent complete reconstruction in the mid-1960s and by 1971 plasterwork, staircase, balusters and most of the woodwork had been replaced. Further restorative work was carried out after 3 September 1993 when a 1000 lb bomb
Bomb
A bomb is any of a range of explosive weapons that only rely on the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy...
exploded directly outside the courthouse causing major structural damage to the roof, façade and walls. The main courtrooms were damaged and in the force of the blast one of the pillars was moved back a full 9 inches. Courtrooms were refurbished and a new 3-storey extension was added to the rear. An extensive programme of reconstruction and enlargement costing £8 million ensued and on 15 January 1999 the courthouse was officially opened by the Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
.