§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Attorney-General whether he will forthwith arrange for the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to be located on the first floor of the petty sessions court, Regent Street, Newtownards, instead of being accommodated in a room formerly occupied by the juvenile court, which has now to conduct its hearings in a room which was never planned as a court room and which is exposed to so much noise from the main road outside that the court and the witnesses are inconvenienced.
§ The Attorney-GeneralWith the passing of the Prosecution of Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 it was necessary to establish, as a matter of urgency, an office for the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Newtownards, to serve the areas of County Down and County Armagh. The only suitable accommodation which could be provided was on the first floor of the Courthouse Building in Newtownards. The juvenile court situated on that floor sits once only in each month. As a temporary measure, and with the consent of the county court judge and the resident magistrate, it was decided to make that courtroom available to the Department. I am informed that the room on the ground floor where the juvenile court now sits was considered to be large enough for the purpose and to be easily adaptable and suitable for the informal atmosphere of such a court. I have instructed that its suitability should be reconsidered.