The Criminal Courts of Justice (Irish: Na Cúirteanna Breithiúnais Coiriúla) is the principal courts building for the criminal courts in the Republic of Ireland.[3][4] It stands on Parkgate Street, near the Phoenix Park.[3][4]
| Criminal Courts of Justice | |
|---|---|
Na Cúirteanna Breithiúnais Coiriúla | |
 | |
  Location within Central Dublin | |
| General information | |
| Type | Courthouse |
| Architectural style | Modern |
| Address | Parkgate Street, Dublin 8 |
| Town or city | Dublin |
| Country | Ireland |
| Coordinates | 53°20′55″N 6°17′44″W / 53.348631°N 6.295682°W |
| Elevation | 10 m (31 ft) |
| Groundbreaking | 2007 |
| Opened | January 2010 |
| Cost | €140 million[1] |
| Owner | Courts Service |
| Height | 32 m (105 ft) |
| Dimensions | |
| Diameter | 40 m (131 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Material | reinforced concrete, glass, timber |
| Floor count | 11 |
| Floor area | 25,000 m2 (270,000 sq ft) |
| Lifts/elevators | 27 |
| Grounds | 0.95 hectare (2.3 acre) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Peter McGovern |
| Architecture firm | Henry J. Lyons & Partners |
| Services engineer | J.V. Tierney & Co. Consulting Engineers |
| Awards and prizes | Public Choice Award / Best Accessible Award 2010[2] |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | 600+ |
| Parking | 72 spaces on-site |
History
The court building, which officially opened in January 2010, replaced the Four Courts and other buildings as the location for most criminal matters before the Dublin Metropolitan District Court and Dublin Circuit Court. The complex also houses the regular sittings of the Central Criminal Court, Special Criminal Court and is home to the criminal division of the Court of Appeal. The Four Courts and Green Street Court House are still used for civil cases.[3][4]
In a change from previous older courts buildings in Ireland, the building has facilities to hold up to 100 prisoners in the basement, with separate entrances for each court.[3] Jurors are also based in a separate part of the building with their own court entrances after being empanelled, in order to keep them separate from the public.[3] Victims and victim support organisations also have use of a suite of rooms.[3]
The building contains rooms for 150 barristers as well as offices for Gardaí, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Probation Service, Law Society of Ireland, judges' chambers, press rooms and court administration.[3]
The building is owned by International Public Partnerships, a London listed fund managed by Amber Infrastructure Partners under a 25 year concession from April 2007.[5]
Gallery
Signage with Lady Justice insignia at the entrance
Entrance
Another view of the building
