Dear Colleagues,
As you are aware, we are now conducting the Callovers of the upcoming family law and civil weeks for hearing over the coming days. These Callovers will be conducted in the office without the need for parties or their legal representatives to attend. We require that the parties or their legal representatives submit via email their application for a hearing date. Said email MUST include an estimated duration of the hearing AND the total number of persons who will attend at the hearing (including the solicitors, counsel, parties and witnesses).
The following is at the direction of Judge Alice Doyle and you are requested to consider same very carefully and to make your applications for hearings during the Callover application period (which will be published shortly for each week of hearing) strictly in accordance with the direction of Judge Doyle as set out hereunder.
The Judge will strictly enforce Social Distancing rules and will issue one warning only in respect of any breach of same and any further breach will lead to the immediate cancellation of the Courts.
Accordingly no more than four persons may be in the bar room at any one time. Consultation rooms are not available for use at this time. Entry to the courtrooms in Clonmel Courthouse is via the rear doors and attendees are to exit the courtrooms via the side doors. Entry to the courtrooms in Nenagh Courthouse is via the designated side doors and attendees are required to exit the courtrooms via the side doors. No written papers/submissions are to be handed up on the day but are to be physically delivered (not emailed) to the Circuit Court Office AT LEAST 48 hours in advance.
Each case will receive a hearing date and time of commencement (if applicable). Punctual attendance at the time of the hearing is essential otherwise the case may lose it’s hearing slot.
All consultations with Clients are to take place outside of the courthouse as the courthouse does not lend itself to consulting within social distancing guidelines in the foyer, on the stairs or in the stairwell.
Under no circumstances are matters to be mentioned in court nor files sought to be brought to court unless same are on the day’s list (and cases listed for hearing on a particular day are assigned via your email application to the Callover for that week).
You will be admitted to the Courtroom 10 mins prior to each time session. You will only be admitted if you are on a hearing list for that time slot/hearing date. Otherwise please do not seek to enter. If you wish to contact the relevant court office, please do so via email to clonmelcourtoffice@courts.ie
Booklets of pleadings – all booklets of pleadings or authorities should be physically filed (not by email) with the office AT LEAST 48 hours in advance of the hearing. No booklets are to be handed in on the day of hearing as they will not be accepted.
The County Registrar will allocate hearing times and dates during the period allocated for receipt of emails before each Callover .
Please engage directly with your colleague to ensure that both parties are fully compliant with the above and refer to this in your email to the Courts.
Once a hearing date is assigned, Adjournments will NOT be granted save by leave of the Judge and only in exceptional circumstances.
Infant Rulings
The Judge will hear these as a matter of priority.
The Practitioner representing the Infant only is to be in court, neither the next friend nor infant are to be present unless the infant has a scar/mark to be examined.
Please notify the court office of Names and Record numbers of such applications and dates will be allocated.
Applications
These must be notified in advance to the County Registrar who will consult with Judge Doyle. This applies to all applications including ex parte applications. Ex parte Applications must all be lodged in advance of court hearings.
Family Law Consent Rulings
The Practitioner and the Applicant only are to be in Court. The signed original consent of the other party is to be produced in Court and is to be properly witnessed either by a Solicitor or a Commissioner of Oaths.
Emails are to be sent to the appropriate email addresses
Future Planning
We now have an opportunity to progress civil and family law cases and I appreciate the continued support of practitioners.
Please confirm the number of witnesses both professional and lay to be in attendance for each case. Again, email this information to the appropriate email address liamryan@courts.ie or elainenash@courts.ie
This information is required in an effort to reopen Courts in a manner consistent with the Department of Health and Government advice and direction.
Each practitioner must comply with the directions given.
I trust each Practitioner will now consider how best they can comply with all of the above and perhaps matters will proceed in an orderly manner yet ensuring that the emergency restrictions and social distancing will be complied with within the Courts and courthouse