Useful Information Larne Courthouse

Location

The courthouse is situated on Victoria Road beside the Council Offices and a short distance from the town centre.

Transport

The bus and railway stations are approximately half a mile from the courthouse. The only buses which pass the courthouse are services to and from Belfast & Ballymena. For information about bus and rail timetables contact Translink on 028 9066 6630 or www.translink.co.uk

Car parking

There is no car parking at the courthouse, but there is a car park on Exchange Road, which runs parallel to Victoria Road and there are also a number of car parks in the town centre.

Opening hours

The building is open from 9.00am on days when courts are sitting. The office is open to the public from 9.30am to 4.30pm on days when courts are sitting. Further details of court sitting days can be found on our website at: www.courtsni.gov.uk. The courts start at 10.00am, generally 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.

Refreshments & other facilities

Refreshment facilities are available at the courthouse. There is a payphone outside the courtroom, and a tannoy system throughout the building. Toilet facilities for disabled people are located on the ground floor.

Mobile Phones and Photographic equipment

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.

Note Taking in Court

Anyone wishing to take notes in court must obtain the judge's prior permission.

Witness Service

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.

Help and information

The staff in the main office on the first floor will help with any queries you may have. There are notice boards in the waiting area and foyer, 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.

Do you have a disability or a special need?

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. The courtroom has an induction loop system, and our leaflets can also be made available in large print.

Witness & Child waiting areas

There is a room designated for vulnerable and intimidated witnesses on the first floor. However it is recommended that the room is booked in advance of the court attendance as this room doubles up as a general consulting room. The waiting room is outside the courtroom on the ground floor.
There are no special facilities for mothers and children, however if you need help please speak to the Customer Service Officer.

Giving Evidence

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.

Contact information

For further information on Larne Courthouse please contact:

The Customer Service Officer
The Courthouse,
Victoria Road,
Larne BT40 1RN
Telephone: 028 2827 2927
Facsimile: 028 2827 6414
Email: larnecourthouse@courtsni.gov.uk

Alternatively contact:

The Customer Service Officer
The Courthouse,
30 Castle Way,
Antrim BT41 4AQ
Telephone: 028 9446 2661
Facsimile: 028 9446 3301
Email: antrimcourthouse@courtsni.gov.uk

This 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 Group
Laganside House,
Oxford Street,
Belfast BT1 3LA
Telephone: 028 9032 8594
Facsimile: 028 9072 8942
Email: communicationsgroup@courtsni.gov.uk
www.courtsni.gov.uk

The 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.