Victims' groups alarmed as murder and rape trials could be delayed by up to two years

A spokesman for the Courts Service said: "Central Criminal Court trials have been delayed since the return of the courts in January due to the high incidence of Covid-19. Picture: Niall Carson

Victims groups have expressed alarm over prospects that more murder and rape trials may not start for two years as a result of a court backlog caused by the pandemic.

This follows a case before the Central Criminal Court yesterday where a defendant charged with attempted murder had a trial date set in March 2023.