Judge calls for bigger jury box at Mayo courthouse

A more spacious jury box is required at Castlebar Courthouse, according to Circuit Court Judge Brian O’Callaghan.

Judge O’Callaghan commented on what he regards as a cramped jury space when presiding over proceedings at the Circuit Criminal Court this week.

After a jury of 12 had been sworn in for the hearing of a criminal assault case the judge commented on the jury enclosure.

He elaborated: “Certainly it (jury box) was not made for big shouldered people."

Later, during the course of the day’s proceedings, Judge O’Callaghan again commented on the constricted jury space, suggesting a more spacious structure is needed.

The jury box and jury room at the courthouse is now back in use after a period of almost two years when they were out of bounds for juries due to Covid restrictions.

The present jury box was installed when a major project to refurbish the courthouse was completed in 2004.

The jury box includes one accessible wheelchair space, located within the defined area of the jury zone.