The Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981

Sitting of court for domestic proceedings N.I.

89.—(1) The business of courts of summary jurisdiction shall, so far as is consistent with the due despatch of business, be arranged in such manner as may be requisite for separating the hearing or determination of domestic proceedings from other business.

(2) No person shall be present during the hearing or determination by a court of summary jurisdiction of any domestic proceedings except—

(a) members and officers of the court;

(b) parties to the proceedings before the court, their solicitors and counsel, witnesses and other persons directly concerned in those proceedings;

(c) solicitors and counsel in attendance for other proceedings;

(d) representatives of newspapers or news agencies; and

(e) any other person who appears to the court to have adequate grounds for attendance.

(3) For the purposes of taking any evidence of an indecent character in any domestic proceedings, the court may, if it thinks necessary in the interest of the administration of justice or of public decency, direct that all or any persons not being members or officers of the court or parties to the proceedings, their solicitors or counsel, or other persons directly concerned in the proceedings, be excluded from the court during the taking of that evidence.

(4) The powers conferred on a court of summary jurisdiction by this Article shall be in addition and without prejudice to any other powers of the court to hear proceedings in camera or to exclude a witness until his evidence is required.