6.—(1) Where a notice of transfer has been given in relation to any case—N.I.
(a)the Crown Court before which the case is to be tried; and
(b)any magistrates' court which exercises any fuctions under paragraph 2 or [F1any regulations under Article 26(3) of the Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003] in relation to the case,
shall, in exercising any of its powers in relation to the case, have regard to the desirability of avoiding prejudice to the welfare of any relevant child witness that may be occasioned by unnecessary delay in bringing the case to trial.
(2) In this paragraph “child” has the same meaning as in Article 4 and “relevant child witness” means a child who will be called as a witness at the trial and who is alleged—
(a)to be a person against whom an offence to which the notice of transfer relates was committed; or
(b)to have witnessed the commission of such an offence.
F1Words in Sch. 1 para. 6(1)(b) substituted (1.4.2015) by Access to Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/435 (N.I. 10)), art. 1(2), Sch. 4 para. 12(4); S.R. 2015/194, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 3)