Courts / Ireland / Report
Bail sign-on conditions relaxed due to virus outbreak
Summary
The High Court has relaxed the requirement for people on bail to sign‑on at Garda stations amid the coronavirus outbreak. While the usual practice of daily or weekly visits to a local Garda station is being eased, other conditions such as keeping a mobile phone number active remain in force. Failure to answer the phone can lead to forfeiture of bail money. Det. Sgt. Jim Kirwan explained that bail‑holders may now avoid signing‑on provided they supply a contactable phone number. Mr Justice Donal Binchy confirmed that all other bail terms still apply and that the court is handling urgent matters only, postponing many extradition cases until travel restrictions ease. He noted that extradition orders are "almost unimplementable" under current conditions and will not issue surrender orders until the situation improves. The court has set a hearing for 24 April for a case involving a man wanted in the UK for rape, attempted rape and indecent assault.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Bail sign-on conditions relaxed due to virus outbreak. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- April 24 Incident
- 2020-03-19 Publication
Places mentioned
- themselves to their local Garda station
- High Court
Topics
Stage Charge Or Pretrial Violent Crime
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