Eastern Circuit – County of Wicklow
Notice regarding listing of certain Civil and Family Cases awaiting trial dates to be assigned
It is now envisaged that as and from the 18th May 2020, the Circuit Court will be in a position to sit and hear a small volume of strictly controlled business, subject to the ongoing government restrictions in place with regard to COVID-19. This will also be subject to having strict social distancing and hygiene measures in place within the Courthouse environment. The co-operation of all court users will be essential.
It is intended that initially the Court will hear some civil and family contested cases, as and from the 18th May next, that are ready to proceed. In that regard, an initial list of cases that are awaiting trial will be published to the website this afternoon, the 8th May, with a view to having a call-over of any cases ready to proceed, on the 13th May 2020 next at Bray Courthouse, so as to assign dates. The initial hearing dates being assigned will be for the three weeks running from the 18th May 2020.
Any cases being mentioned at the call-over on the 13th May will be split so as to comply with social distancing - grouped, as per the list into two different time slots: 2.00pm-2.30pm (part 1) and 2.45pm-3.15pm (part 2).
The Circuit Judge has directed that the legal practitioners in the cases listed today should now discuss and agree between them the following matters and confirm in writing to Bray Court Office, by email to braycourtoffice@courts.ie, by Tuesday next at 1.00pm, the following:
1. That the case is ready to proceed
2. The number of witnesses involved and confirmation that they are available in the coming period
3. The time required to hear the case, as agreed – this is most important as time slots may be used for cases and social distancing and management of numbers in attendance at any given time within the Courthouse will be very important
4. The total number of persons who it is proposed will be in attendance for the case – legal practitioners, witnesses and any other persons – so that social distancing management can be assessed and where the parties indicate that a case is ready to proceed, they will then need to attend the call-over on Wednesday the 13th May, where the Court will assign a specific hearing date in the coming weeks – please note that only one legal representative from each side is required at the call-over.
General Note to Practitioners: If there are any legal practitioners who have a civil or family trial that is not listed on the initial call-over list and that they wish to seek to bring on for hearing they should contact the Court Office, in writing and advise of same while also agreeing and specifying the information at 1 – 4 above. The Office will advise them of a call-over date in course but it may be a future date.
IMPORTANT
- Only the list as of cases as currently published will be called over on the 13th May – no other cases will be called except by advance agreement with the Office and the Court and no other persons should attend the court sitting
- Please note that the public counters of the Court Office remain closed except by prior appointment, until further notice. Please write to or contact the Court Office by telephone or email in the first instance