Friday 9 October 2020; Following the Government’s announcement to move the country to Level 3 on the National Framework for Living with Covid-19, the Courts Service is continuing with Courts operations, to ensure access to justice. The Courts Service has undertaken a review of the Government’s Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021 Plan, and under the restrictions announced for Level 3, the protective measures the Courts Service have in place allow for the business of the Courts to continue, including the empanelling of juries. The Courts Service remains dedicated to the safety of all court users and takes very seriously its health and safety responsibilities for all.
The move to Level 3 restrictions nationwide has resulted in venues taking the business decision to close, the closure of the Tullamore Court hotel means jury empanelling due to take place there from 19 October 2020 will now be relocated to Bridge House Hotel, Bridge Street, Tullamore, Offaly where the jury empanelling will take place instead. Therefore if you received a jury summons for the Tullamore Court Hotel please now attend the Bridge House Hotel in Bridge Street at the same time scheduled on your summons.
All other venues planned for jury empanelling remain unaffected, at this time. If you have received a summons and are unsure please call the contact number on the summons. Any changes to jury empanelment, court sittings and court operations are made available through the Courts Service twitter feed - @CourtsServiceIE and on our webpages @ https://www.courts.ie/covid-19-notices and https://www.courts.ie/covid-19-response-updates
The Courts Service has safely conducted a number of jury trials since the start of the pandemic, receiving excellent feedback from jurors who felt safe throughout the process from empanelment right through jury duty, as a result of the Courts Service comprehensive health and safety management programme and measures. These health and safety measures implemented by the Courts Service, including, for example, social distancing measures, access to hand-washing/sanitising facilities etc., are detailed in the information provided with all jury summons, which should be read carefully.
Those who have received a jury summons should:
1. familiarise themselves with the guidance as contained in the summons they received,
2. 24- 48 hours prior to the date on the jury summons, check the Courts Service twitter feed @CourtsServiceIE or the webpage @ https://www.courts.ie/covid-19-response-updates
3. report to the place indicated on their summons,
4. note that the Courts Service will provide face coverings for anyone who needs one, as well as hand sanitisers/access to hand washing facilities,
5. understand that the Courts Service will provide further information on arrival and Covid-19 screening questions will be covered on check-in with each person individually.
Jury service is an essential element of the criminal justice system and every effort has been made to ensure the empaneling process is safe and feels safe to people attending for jury service. The Courts Service continues to keep all public health guidance under review and will continue to adapt its ways of working and its Covid-19 Safety Management Programme to ensure compliance.
If you have any questions please refer to the information provided with your summons, for further questions please contact the number provided with the summons.