Urgent matters only to be heard in the courts
COURT operations have been scaled back as measures to limit the spread of coronavirus are scaled up.
The number and size of court hearings will be limited. ‘In many ways it will be business as usual, but with mitigating measures in place to reduce the numbers attending courts,’ said Courts Services in a statement.
‘The service is very aware of its responsibility to limit the scope of any threats to health which large gatherings may pose: but we are also aware that arrangements must be respectful of people’s rights.’
Court offices will remain open and function as normal. District courts will remain open but work will be scaled back to deal with urgent matters only. Non-urgent matters will be adjourned to future dates. No new trials will commence in the Circuit Criminal Courts for the next two weeks.
All jurors that were to attend Wicklow Circuit Court sitting in Bray on March 18 and 24 are not to attend on any day. Any family law matters will be adjourned to a date after April 20. Those with non-urgent cases are no longer required to attend court. The District court will hear urgent matters only and those with non-urgent cases are not required to attend.
Urgent cases include criminal cases where the accused is in custody and cases where people are charged with new offences. It does not include criminal cases where the accused is on bail or is not in custody. Remands where the accused is in custody will be dealt with by video-link wherever possible. In family law, urgent matters include new applications for protection orders or interim barring orders and return hearings of interim barring order cases. If safety order hearings are being adjourned interim protective orders will be extended to the new date.
Non-urgent cases will be adjourned, and parties will be told of their new court dates by ordinary post or by their solicitor or barrister where one is present. All District Court civil matters are considered to be non-urgent and will be adjourned to a new date. Parties will be told of their new court dates by ordinary post or by their solicitor or barrister where one is present.