Further to President Ryan’s Direction of 27 January 2021, the two weeks of family and civil sittings listed for the period 9-18th February 2021 are adjourned to the County Registrar’s Callover on 25 March 2021 subject to the following provisions:
Parties can apply, on notice to the other parties, to Judge Fergus each Tuesday seeking the Judge’s permission to hear cases which had been scheduled to be heard during these two weeks.
Judge Fergus will hold a virtual court on Tuesday 9 February and Tuesday 16 February in Mullingar Courthouse at 10.30am to hear applications during the period 9 February – 18 February 2021.
Judge Fergus will also consider similar applications submitted by email to mullingarcourtoffice@courts.ie on notice to the other parties and preferably with all parties’ consent. Emails should outline the reasons for seeking a hearing.
Family Law cases:
Family Law matters may be listed for hearing remotely during these two weeks at the parties’ request but only where all parties are legally represented. All such applications to be made to the Judge each Tuesday and/or by email to the court office.
Lay Litigants:
Lay Litigants in family and civil cases listed during this two-week period are advised to email mullingarcourtoffice@courts.ie if they have an urgent matter. Arrangements for a hearing can be made for a physical court where the Judge decides for it to be heard.
Judge Fergus will be available during this two- week period for dealing with all other urgent applications of a family and civil nature within the Midland Circuit and such applications must be made to the Judge at the Tuesday morning virtual courts.
Civil Cases:
Where the Judge deems a civil case urgent, arrangements for the hearing will be made to occur within these two weeks. Such hearings will be conducted remotely where possible. Parties can also apply to the Judge to rule settlements and infant settlements each Tuesday, on notice to the other party.
Where necessary, Judge Fergus will be available to conduct courts in person in Mullingar Courthouse.
Links to the virtual courts each week will be sent to the legal practitioners approximately 3 days in advance and will be available to members through the Law Society of Ireland and the Bar of Ireland websites:
Law Society of Ireland - https://www.lawsociety.ie/remotehearings
Bar of Ireland Members Area - https://members.lawlibrary.ie/members-area/covid/it-help
The Civil callover and the Family callover will occur on Thursday 25 March 2021. The Possession callover will occur via email on 25 March 2021. Priority will be given to the cases that were listed in February 2021 where possible.
29th January 2021