Waiting time for murder and rape trials slashed
The waiting time for rape and murder trials at the Central Criminal Court has been reduced to just one year, compared with about two years previously.
Rape and sexual assault cases accounted for almost 82% of the cases on the May listing session.
Dates in April and May next year were set for nine rape and sex assault and two murder trials at the May listing sessions, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Carney.
Four further cases were adjourned to the June listing session and one further case was struck out on the application of the State.
The case struck out was a proposed retrial of a now 56-year-old Dublin man who was jailed for nine years on October 19, 1999 following his conviction in July that year.
Cases which have been allotted ‘definite’ dates may lose their place on the appointed day if some other trial or trials over-run their estimated duration.
This can occur quite often when legal argument in the absence of the jury might take several days before determination.
Mr Justice Carney, in charge of the list, has previously described long delays in getting cases to trial as being "highly unsatisfactory" and has worked towards reducing the delay.
Four High Court judges are now generally available for Central Criminal Court trials in Dublin and trials are also now heard in Limerick.
