There will be no Circuit Court trials for the first two weeks of the upcoming legal term due to the surge in COVID cases.

Circuit Court President Patricia Ryan issued the order this afternoon.

No jury trials will get underway before January 24th and all trials that were due to begin will now be rescheduled.

She said sentencing hearings, arraignments and bail applications will be heard as usual, subject to strict compliance with public health guidelines.

The situation is expected to be reviewed during the week of January 17th.

A spokesperson for the Courts Service said restrictions on some court hearings were expected from next week.

He said the Courts Service is currently liaising with the judiciary, legal professions and other justice sector agencies – with details of the restrictions to be published tomorrow.