The courthouse is situated on The Mall close to the main town centre and can be reached from either the Lonsdale Road entrance or the College Street entrance although this entrance is only open on days the court is sitting.
The bus station is located close by on Lonsdale Road. The courthouse is approximately a five minute walk from the town centre. For information about bus timetables contact Translink on 028 9066 6630 or www.translink.co.uk
There is no car parking at the courthouse. However, there are public car parks on the Lonsdale Road side of the courthouse.
The building is open from 9.00am. The office is open to the public from 9.30am to 4.30pm. The courts generally start at 10.30am, stopping for lunch around 1.00pm and resuming at 2.00pm, until the daily business is finished. The office is open for fine payment or other business during lunch.
Refreshment facilities are available at the courthouse. There are also a number of cafes and restaurants close by in the city centre. There is a payphone in the main waiting area, and a tannoy system throughout the building. There is a no smoking policy in Armagh Courthouse.
Care must be taken in the use of mobile phones whilst in the precincts of the court. It is prohibited to use any photographic or recording device within the court building and the area immediately surrounding it. Some mobile phones are capable of performing this function and therefore you are advised not to use mobile phones for this purpose whilst attending court. Mobile phones must be switched off before entering a courtroom.
Anyone wishing to take notes in court must obtain the judge's prior permission.
If you are a victim or witness for the prosecution, Victim Support Northern Ireland offers a Witness Service at all the Crown and Magistrate' Courts.
Before the Trial: opportunity to talk to someone; pre-trial familiarisation visit to court; information on court procedures.
During the Trial: safe waiting area; liaison with court officers and legal representatives; arrangements for witnesses with special needs; accompanying witnesses into court.
After the Trial: preparing victims for case outcome; encouraging continued contact with Victim Support Community Service; referral on to other agencies.
There are designated waiting areas for vulnerable/intimidated witnesses and child witnesses, as well as several consultation rooms in the building.
The staff in the main office on the ground floor will help with any queries you may have. There are notice boards outside each courtroom, which display lists of the daily business. If you require additional information or need to meet someone on arrival, you can get help from the reception desk in the main hall or the court office which will be available from 9.30am each court day. If you have not already done so, you may wish to contact a solicitor before coming to court.
Please note that you must attend court at the time you have been given, although you may not be called until after this. If you feel you have been waiting too long, please contact a court official.
If you have a disability or a special need, please contact the Customer Service Officer who will provide you with information on the facilities available. All courtrooms in Armagh have induction loop systems, and our leaflets can also be made available in large print.
There are no special facilities for mothers and children at the courthouse. However, if you need help, please speak to the Customer Service Officer and he or she will try to help you as much as possible.
If you are aged 14 or over and have to give evidence in court, you will be required either to take a religious oath or 'affirm' that you will tell the truth. The court clerk will ask you which method you want to use, and invite you to repeat after them the appropriate words. A religious oath is a sworn promise to tell the truth and is made on a holy book. An affirmation is a declaration to tell the truth but it is not sworn on a holy book.
For further information on Armagh Courthouse please contact:
The Customer Service OfficerThis information sheet will be made available in a range of alternative formats. Requests for alternative formats should be made to Communications Group. For further information on other courthouses please contact:
NI Courts and Tribunals ServiceThe Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service is committed to improving its quality of service to all court users. By making comments about our services, you enable us to improve them. By making a complaint, you enable us to put things right.