Belfast trial on hold due to pandemic difficulties
THE coronavirus pandemic has begun to strike at the administration of justice in Northern Ireland again and could impact on criminal cases, it was revealed yesterday.
It has also emerged that new directions are to be issued to lawyers, and possibly others, over the wearing of protective face masks when in court.
Cases involving several defendants, particularly where their physical presence is required, cannot be catered for and may face considerable adjournment given fears over the current health crisis.
In addition the daily running of the courts is being disrupted, as they have to be cleaned down before a judge can deal with a list of cases immediately after another judge has sat in the same courtroom.
Yesterday the trial date for a ‘three-barrelled’ robbery case next month was “vacated” in light of concerns voiced over Covid and its public health implications.
Belfast Recorder Judge Stephen Fowler QC, in agreeing to an adjournment, said such cases — with a doubling of counsel and legal representatives, and additional footfall — put them “into a
different category entirely”.
However, the Belfast Crown Court judge said that cases of one or two defendants, with fewer witnesses and of less complexity, should still be able to be dealt with.
He was responding to concerns raised by senior QC John Mccrudden. Voicing the opinion of other counsel, he said the consensus was they were unsure of the viability of a trial from a public health point of view.
Mr Mccrudden said while the case is ready to go on, unfortunately the news being given daily was that “we are about to enter the worst phase of the pandemic”.
The wearing of face masks later came up for discussion, with Judge Fowler indicating that while currently counsel should wear masks when in court, they should remove them when addressing the court.
Judge Fowler explained that the wearing of face masks when speaking was “proving difficult” in hearing what was being said, given the various layers of necessary transparent partitions in the courtroom.
However, he added that further directions on the matter were to be given.