The courthouse is situated in Albert Place beside the Adair Arms Hotel and close to the town centre.
The bus and railway stations are approximately half a mile from the courthouse. Most buses stop at George Street, about 100 yards from the courthouse. For information about bus and rail timetables contact Translink on 028 9066 6630 or www.translink.co.uk
There is no car parking at the courthouse, but there is a car park on the Ballymoney Road opposite the building and several more in the town centre. You can enter the court complex each day from Albert Place and, on days that the court is sitting, also from Ballymoney Road.
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 10.00am; lunch can start from 12.30pm depending on the day’s business. The office is open during lunch.
Refreshment facilities are available at the courthouse. There are payphones outside courts 1 & 2, and a tannoy system throughout the building.
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.
The staff in the main office on the first 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 or 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. Courts 1 & 2 have induction loop systems, and our leaflets can also be made available in large print.
There are special rooms designated for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses on the first floor of the Crown Court building and the second floor of the Magistrates' Court building. A play area for children is located in the main waiting room outside court 3. A room for children and witnesses giving evidence by video link is opposite the chambers in the Crown Court building.
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 Ballymena 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 Service Communications GroupThe 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.