Courts Service steps up measures to keep rats out of Limerick Criminal Courts

David Raleigh

The Courts Service said it had implemented measures aimed at keeping rats out of the Limerick Criminal Court’s buildings, after a noticeable increase in the vermin being observed around the exterior of the courthouse complex.

Videos and images were shared of rats at the criminal courts complex car park, Mulgrave Street, sparking alarm among staff.

Sources said they saw rats creeping along window sills and climbing up window panes, attempting to gain entry to the €28 million building consisting of six courtrooms, consultation rooms, media facilities, administration offices, and judges' chambers, which opened in 2018.

One of the sources said they felt “sick” when they viewed videos of the rats at the courts, which is also located near Limerick Prison.

The courts service said: “Like all managers of public buildings, we keep an ongoing check on rodent activity in the area of our buildings and put in place control and eradication as needed.”

“There is a contract in place for Mulgrave Street Courts Complex for ongoing monitoring of such activity.”

The Courts Service confirmed, “there was a report relating to rats in a nearby derelict building prior to Easter, and rodents were noted near or in the carpark area”.

“No incident of rodent activity was reported within the courts complex,” it added.

The Courts Service said it contacted its “pest control contractor immediately” after it “received reports of sightings near our perimeter and car park, and they dealt with the issue”.

“To further ensure the area of the courthouse continues to remain safe from rodents, we have organised groundworks in the carpark to prevent rodent access.”

“This includes structural work to the perimeter wall, introduction of more secure refuse containers, and the removal of vegetation in the car park area.”

Sources said extra rodent bait boxes had been placed around the courthouse exterior to try to prevent more rats from going into that area.

A source said: “There has been loads of rats seen around the courts complex recently, and it is scary enough when you see how big they are.

“God forbid they get into the building and bite someone,” they warned.

A courts spokesman said that “proactive management of threats from rodents” had ensured that no rats had breached the interior of the courts, which he said remained “rodent free”.