Derry courtroom unable to be used for jury trials after £250K upgrade
- Published
Crown Court cases only returned to Bishop Street Courthouse in September after moving to Coleraine during the Covid pandemic
A courtroom at Bishop Street Courthouse in Londonderry is unable to be used for jury trials due to "acoustic issues" that emerged following a £250,000 upgrade to the building.
The issues are due to a ventilation system fitted in 2018, BBC News NI understands.
It means jury trials are being heard in a smaller and less modern courtroom.
Crown Court cases only returned to the city in September, after being moved to Coleraine during the Covid pandemic.
The Department of Justice (DoJ) confirmed to BBC News NI that jury trials are not being heard in Courtroom Four because of the sound issues.
A spokesperson said "acoustic issues" in the courtroom could potentially cause difficulties for participants.
They said that while jury trials are not being heard in the courtroom at present, it remains open for other types of business.
'Air conditioning interferes with the recording'
They also confirmed that the acoustic issues are being addressed and it is planned that Crown Court jury trials will return to this courtroom in the new year.
Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's The North West Today, court reporter Eamonn MacDermott said following the upgrade in 2018, two big air conditioning units were placed in the main courtroom of Bishop Street Courthouse.
"A major problem is that Crown Court proceedings are recorded, trials are recorded, and as far as I'm aware the air conditioning interferes with the recording because of the noise", Mr MacDermott said.
"I don't think this is a matter of simply turning the air conditioning off, especially when we get into the spring and summer months, because the courtroom can get very warm and very uncomfortable.
"If you're a juror and are sitting there for four or five hours during the day it could be very uncomfortable."
Mr MacDermott said the much smaller courtroom, Courtroom One, is now having to be used to hear jury trials, which Mr MacDermott said is "not as suitable" as it has no major public gallery.
He described it as an "unsuitable environment" for such trials and said this needs to be address as soon as possible.