Kirkwall Sheriff Court reprieve

Orkney MSP Liam McArthur has welcomed the news that the newly launched Scottish Courts Service consultation on Future Court Structures will not be considering the closure of Kirkwall Sheriff Court.

Commenting, Mr McArthur said: “When initial press reports about the future of the Scottish Courts Service suggested a possible reduction in the amount of work undertaken by Kirkwall Sheriff Court, there were understandably concerns in Orkney.  At the time, I wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice seeking his assurances that access to justice would not be made more difficult for those living in the islands, an inevitable consequence of the more centralised approach being proposed.

“It appears that there has been a re-think by the Scottish Court Service.  This is welcome and recognition of the fact that people in Orkney should not have to travel hundreds of miles to access justice.”