Part I Scheduled Offences
Court and mode of trial
9 Court for trial of scheduled offences.
1
A trial on indictment of a scheduled offence shall be held only at the Crown Court sitting in Belfast, unless the Lord Chancellor after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland directs in any particular case that such a trial shall be held at the Crown Court sitting elsewhere.
2
A person committed for trial for a scheduled offence, or for two or more offences at least one of which is a scheduled offence, shall be committed—
a
to the Crown Court sitting in Belfast, or
b
where the Lord Chancellor has given a direction under subsection (1) above with respect to the trial, to the Crown Court sitting at the place specified in the direction;
and section 48 of the M1Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (committal for trial on indictment) shall have effect accordingly.
3
Where—
a
in accordance with subsection (2) above any person is committed for trial to the Crown Court sitting in Belfast, and
b
a direction is subsequently given by the Lord Chancellor under subsection (1) above altering the place of trial,
that person shall be treated as having been committed for trial to the Crown Court sitting at the place specified in the direction.