The backlog includes 23 murder and 36 rape cases and has been described as “wholly unacceptable” by the chair of Stormont’s Justice Committee.

DUP MLA Paul Givan told the newspaper that the situation must be addressed urgently.

“Justice delayed is justice denied to the victims of crime. The Covid health situation has not stopped criminal behaviour, including the most serious crimes of murder and sexual offences.

“It is therefore imperative the court systems function effectively, but instead it is failing victims and society.”

Mr Givan said he will meet with the Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan to express his concerns and will also bring the matter up with Justice Minister Naomi Long.

The data relate to Crown Court defendants who have had their first hearing after a decision to prosecute, but which have yet to be dealt with.

The Department of Justice confirmed that the number of outstanding Crown Court cases has increased from 352 to 521 since the first lockdown.

North Antrim MLA Jim Allister, a barrister, told the newspaper: “It’s concerning that one of the casualties of Covid is the efficient functioning of the criminal justice system since there are issues of fundamental freedoms involved as well as the importance of bringing the guilty to justice.

“Anyone who turns out to be found not guilty if they’ve been in custody, they will have an added sense of grievance.”

However, he added: “I don’t think there’s an easy answer to this. You can’t put 12 people into small jury rooms during Covid so they have to find much larger facilities and it’s going to be difficult.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said: “Significant work was … undertaken by the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS), the PPS, the Judiciary and the legal profession to ensure that courts business did not completely grind to a halt last March.”

They added: “Jury trials resumed in August, with significant adaptations made to courtrooms at Laganside, Antrim, Craigavon, Coleraine, Newry and Dungannon, and protective measures introduced to ensure jury trials could proceed safely.”