Eight men are scheduled go on trial in Croke Park next year, accused of assault and violent disorder.
The large venue was listed to help deal with social distancing rules, but nothing has been agreed with the GAA yet.
It is alleged that the men committed the offences in Dublin in February 2015.
Solicitor Keith Walsh says the move makes sense because of the sheer number of people involved:
"I suppose where there's eight defendants, you're going to have at least one barrister each."
"If not two for each defendant and at least one solicitor for each defendant."
"So the legal teams alone would probably be between 16 to 24 people."
"You have then the 12 jurors, who wouldn't be able to sit next to each other, neither would the lawyers."
"So that's at least another 12 people separated 2 metres apart."
"Jurors aren't currently sitting in the formal old jury box because it's no longer suitable there."
"They are scattered around the court."
Croke Park is to be the venue early next year for a criminal case involving multiple defendants, in order to help facilitate social distancing.
The eight men named on the indictment face charges of assault causing harm and violent disorder in Dublin in February 2015. pic.twitter.com/EbhkRWMg03— Courts News Ireland (@courtsnewsIRL) October 9, 2020
Essential That Sessions Are Held In Public
While Keith himself is a family law solicitor who has worked during remote proceedings involving divorce, he says it's vital that sessions like this one take place in public.
He says there may be others who want to attend the proceedings, and space must be made for them.
"Also, one of the cornerstones of civil and criminal justice in Ireland is that it's administered in public."
"So obviously you'd have friends and family of the accused."
"Potentially victims and people associated or supporting them too, they may also be in court."
"Also you may even have journalists."
"I suppose it's really important that justice is seen to be administered in public, it's a constitutional right, and it's essential."
"Particularly during Covid."
