Mr Justice Michael White today said that trials can continue during Level 4 restrictions with juries to be selected from smaller panels to allow for social distancing.

Under Level 5 no new juries will be sworn but trials that are already underway will continue. It remains to be seen what will happen if the government opts for a hybrid of Levels 4 and 5.

The system outlined by the judge this morning mirrors that undertaken during the first lockdown when ongoing trials were allowed to conclude. There are currently a number of trials ongoing before the Central Criminal Court in Dublin and around the country.

A further statement from the Courts Service is expected later today.