Covid sees Central Criminal Court trials adjourned for years

The Central Criminal Court is managing a substantial backlog of cases caused by Covid-19 restrictions, with trial commencement dates now being set more than two years in advance. Mr Justice Michael White scheduled a trial for attempted murder charges for March 2023, while noting that jury trials, suspended since January, will not resume before the end of March at the earliest. A judicial meeting on March 15 will determine when jury proceedings can recommence, with March 29 identified as a potential restart date, though April 12 remains a fallback option if health conditions do not permit earlier resumption. At the Special Criminal Court, the trial of four men charged with abducting and assaulting Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney was adjourned until May 31. Mr Justice Tony Hunt cited public health constraints preventing the multi-party trial from proceeding as originally scheduled for March 1.