At present, the President of the District Court has advised that the District Court will continue to provide the level of service we have been providing across criminal, civil and family/childcare matters. However, this time we must be mindful of the greater incidences of Covid 19 in our communities and there is a real possibility that the virus is more transmissible. We must also consider public health guidance next week which is likely to recommend restrictions in excess of level 5 to control the spread of Covid 19.
From Wednesday, we will conduct our courts in a more restricted manner, as follows:
Criminal
Solicitors to advise their clients to only attend Court in the following circumstances:
Election of summary trial
Service of a BOE
Attend a hearing or for sentencing
Hearings which require civil witnesses will all be remanded for the month of January
Hearings which involve state witnesses should proceed
All prisoners should appear via video link for the time being
Juvenile Criminal
Charge sheets and summonses adjourned to 4th February 2021. Any applications in relation to urgent matters to be mentioned in court on Wednesday 6th January 2021.
Civil
All civil matters for the month of January will be adjourned. An application may be made in advance by a party requesting a matter to proceed on an urgent basis and the matter will only proceed if the application is successful.
Family
Solicitors to advise their clients to attend at their appointed times, all negotiations and talks to take place prior to the Court date. Only their clients to attend court, no other parties to attend. All domestic violence cases will be heard. Time slots will be assigned being 10.00am for domestic violence cases. 12 noon for custody/access cases and 2pm for maintenance and arrears of maintenance cases.
Childcare
All applications save Section 17 applications to be adjourned to February Court. In the event the application for the interim care order is unopposed, an Affidavit from the Social worker will suffice.
Kind regards,
Judge Geraldine Carthy