Limavady Courthouse by Kenneth Allen [CC BY-SA 2.0]

The courthouse was last used for court business in March of 2020 when it hosted the weekly Adult Magistrates Court proceedings but did not reopen after Covid restrictions were lifted. The Adult Magistrates Court will now be permanently relocated to an alternative courthouse in the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunal Service (NICTS) estate.

Ms Long said: “60 per cent of those who responded to the consultation agreed that the proposal to permanently close Limavady Courthouse was reasonable and justified, taking into account the considerations set out in the consultation paper and impact assessments.”

Ms Long continued: “Within an increasingly constrained funding envelope for my Department, implementation of this proposal will enable NICTS to focus and prioritise investment to provide improved user experience, value for money, resilience and sustainability across the NICTS estate, whilst ensuring that the people of Limavady continue to have access to justice within higher quality, safer, more modern and more accessible courthouse facilities.”

Located on the main street in Limavady the court building was constructed between 1914 and 1915 and is recorded on the NI Buildings Database as being of architectural or historic interest. Ms Long said: “Disposal of the building will provide opportunity for a new owner to invest in a landmark building and bring it back into active use.”