In consideration of the continuing Covid pandemic situation and in light of the continuing high numbers of Covid cases, in the interest of the health and safety of all users of Portlaoise Courthouse, it has been decided as follows:
1. All summons cases listed before Portlaoise District Court at 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Thursday the 21st day of January, 2021 will be adjourned to a future Court date.
All persons summonses to Portlaoise District Court on the 21st day of January, 2021 at the times specified, should not now attend at the Courthouse in answer to their summonses.
The cases will be adjourned to a future date and all Defendants will be notified of the adjourned dates in writing by Portlaoise Court Office.
2. Any persons who are on bail in relation to matters before Portlaoise District Court on Thursday the 21st day of January, 2021 must abide by the directions as set out in the Notice issued by the President of the District Court on the 6th January, 2021 as follows:
If you have a solicitor and you are charged with an offence or summoned to appear before the District Court, contact your solicitor who will advise you when you need to attend court.
Solicitors may advise their clients to attend court only for entering their election for summary trial, for service of a book of evidence, to attend a hearing or for sentencing.
If you do not have a solicitor then you do need to attend court as directed, however you are advised to instruct a solicitor to appear on your behalf and to avoid having to attend court unnecessarily.
Hearings involving the prosecution of alleged breaches of domestic violence orders, hearings where the accused is in custody and hearings involving only state witnesses will proceed where it is safe to do so.