The increase of Covid-19 cases in Ireland has resulted in a number of Dublin courts not sitting this week, and some serious criminal cases being halted.
It comes as the Acting Chief Medical Officer, Professor Breda Smyth, has urged people to go back to meeting outdoors due to high case numbers.
The sentence hearing of a convicted rapist for a separate random attack on a woman in 2011 was the latest to be called off today as some of those involved had to isolate.
Read more: Covid-19 Ireland: Hospitalisations increase 347% as Irish nurses call for public health measures
Meanwhile, at the Criminal Court of Justice, “at least three courts” were not able to sit due to involved parties having to isolate because of the virus, Court Reporting Agency CCC Nuacht reports.
In the Special Criminal Court, a murder trial has been postponed since last week as a result of one of the sitting judges contracting Covid-19, it is understood.
On Monday, the sentencing of a violent domestic assault at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court did not go ahead due to another judge being absent. This judge is “also hearing the trial of three men accused of indecent assault”.
Finally, a sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court will not go ahead as planned later this week as it is understood that a judge is isolating.
In a statement issued on Tuesday afternoon and reported by CCC Nuacht, a spokesman for the Courts Service said “A number of hearings due to be held in Dublin’s CCJ today, were adjourned for a week as a number of people involved in those cases were unavailable due to Covid-19 related absences.
“The Courts Service continues to respond to Covid-19 in accordance with our Covid-19 safety management programme, public health and government advice to ensure we keep courts open and safe.”
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