Mr. Brendan Ryan:

We have a design brief which we have developed since 1998. It is a work in progress because issues come up on a regular basis. It was designed by the architects in the Office of Public Works in consultation with legal practitioners and various groups. When we go out to build courtrooms at court venues, the design brief specifies segregation, including segregated walkways around the courthouse. It is really well thought out and designed but it is not fixed in stone. If an issue arises at any stage that we believe requires further adjustments, we will make those. It is not a family law venue but the Criminal Courts of Justice was opened in 2009 and is one of the best court venues in the world in terms of segregation. The Judiciary comes in its own entrance.

The juries are automatically segregated. They have their own circulation path. Those in custody come into the basement, where there is accommodation for up to 100. There are lifts and staircases to all 22 courts. Outside the courtroom there is a holding area. Those in custody appear in the courtroom whereas in the old days they were marched along the corridors in handcuffs. Everybody appears in the court room at the last minute. The judge comes from his direction, the jury from another, those in custody from another and the public and practitioners come in the main door. That is the concept we use for all court venues and is part of our building brief.