Criminal trials will be held in Croke Park during the first three months of 2021 in order to help the Court Service cope with the practicalities of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Up to 200 court sitting days will take place during the period of time, which is part of the Courts Service plan to ensure as much court business as possible can take place during the pandemic.
The new court facility at Croke Park, which has a number of conference facilities, will allow for three courts to sit. The cost of hiring the venue for the three months is €437,000, and the Courts Service says it believes that Croke Park provides the "optimum solution" to run trial hearings in the New Year "so as to continue to provide access to justice during the pandemic".