There is no doubting the huge improvement to the fabric of the court buildings in Gibraltar. Just as with the prison before, the fabric of the buildings has, especially for staff, been transformed to the highest, modern standards.

But there is more to justice than this.

 

The fact that three defendants have had to bare years of anxiety for a case in which a very short time of questioning from a lawyer saw them cleared raises issues of concern.

The creation of more court rooms, albeit they are a little squeezed and lack proper press facilities, has to be met with sufficient manning and training. That is especially true of police and prosecuting staff.

It was evident that some of the work in this case did not meet the standards a court should expect in terms of preparation. That is not a reflection on any individual. But it is a signal that some serious thinking needs to be done if swift and good justice is to be dispensed.