Part VIINorthern Ireland
Scheduled offences
74Court for trial
1
A trial on indictment of a scheduled offence shall be held only at the Crown Court sitting in Belfast, unless—
a
the Lord Chancellor after consultation with the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland directs that the trial, or a class of trials within which it falls, shall be held at the Crown Court sitting elsewhere, or
b
the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland directs that the trial, or part of it, 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 a direction has been given under subsection (1) which concerns the trial, to the Crown Court sitting at the place specified in the direction;
and section 48 of the [1978 c. 23.] Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (committal for trial on indictment) shall have effect accordingly.
3
Where—
a
a person is committed for trial to the Crown Court sitting in Belfast in accordance with subsection (2), and
b
a direction is subsequently given under subsection (1), before the commencement of the trial, altering the place of trial,
the person shall be treated as having been committed for trial to the Crown Court sitting at the place specified in the direction.