Croke Park in a 437,000 euro deal to host criminal trials

Croke Park will conduct criminal trials during the first three months of 2021, with three court hearings and up to 200 court days during the period.

It emerged last fall that Croke Park, more accustomed to Irish finals and big-name music concerts, would be used to host long-running trials, with pressure on existing court facilities pushed to the limit by restrictions on Covid-19.

However, the Court Service has now provided more details on how and when the tests will take place at the famous sports venue, including that it will cost € 437,000 for the duration of the contract.

According to a spokesperson for the Courts Service: “The new judicial facility will allow three courts to meet, and it is planned to provide up to 200 hearing days during the agreement, from January to March 2021; this initiative is part of the execution of the plan of the Court Service to ensure that as many legal matters as possible can continue safely during the pandemic.

“To lessen the impact on the ordinary routine of those involved in criminal trials, trials that are expected to be longer will be included in Croke Park. The trial courts of the Parkgate Street Criminal Courts of Justice will continue to focus on trials that normally they require less time to listen, which minimizes the number of people who need to attend the Croke Park facility. “

The contract with Croke Park was signed by Angela Denning, Executive Director of Courts Service and Mark Dorman, Director of Croke Park Stadium.

The Courts Service said very specific requirements must be met to conduct hearings safely, in particular the need for different entry and exit routes for different court users, as well as health and safety and planning. of ICT.

Ms Denning said: “We have been challenged across the country to try to facilitate criminal trials, in proper and safe locations amid our responsibilities to keep courts operational and staff, judiciary, juries and users. of the safe courts.

Outside of Dublin, we have been using 12 venues across the country and feedback from jurors and others has been very positive. We will use Croke Park to ensure this safety record continues as we provide access to justice in safe and appropriate conditions.

In addition to the 12 test centers already in use since testing resumed in September 2020, there are already “very advanced” plans to add two additional centers in Sligo and Monaghan. The Court Service is also actively exploring other suitable options for conducting trials outside of Dublin.

He said the pandemic had also accelerated work on digitizing work within the courts, such as the increased use of video links, online filing and the introduction of remote courts, telephone reservation and communication with juries through of texting.

In 2020, the Court Service introduced and organized 2,100 virtual court hearings from April to December; facilitated 10,754 video calls from courts to prisons between March and November with the Irish Prison Service; and introduced the nationwide rollout of eLicensing.