The Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981

Committal proceedings to be in open courtN.I.

35.  The place in which a magistrates' court is sitting to conduct a preliminary investigation or a preliminary inquiry shall be deemed to be an open court except where—

(a)any statutory provision contains an express provision to the contrary; or

(b)it appears to the court that the ends of justice would not be served by sitting in open court for the whole or any part of the investigation or inquiry.