F1As to holding of petty sessions in courthouses, see 1981 NI 26
(1)[F2 The Lord Chancellor] may licence any person to use for any purpose the whole or any part of any courthouse accommodation for any period or periods at such charge and on such conditions as may be thought proper, so, however, that, notwithstanding anything contained in the terms of the licence or in any enactment,—
(a)the licence shall not operate by way of tenancy nor so as to create the relationship of landlord and tenant; and
(b)the licence shall not be made for any period or in any circumstances which would interfere with or prejudice the use of the courthouse accommodation as courthouse accommodation or interfere with or prejudice any council in the exercise of their functions; and
(c)the licence may be determined by [F2 the Lord Chancellor] at any time without notice and without payment of compensation where it appears to [F2 the Lord Chancellor] to be necessary to do so.
(2)F3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3)Any licensee or other person who fails to vacate courthouse accommodation required for the sitting of any court or who obstructs or impedes the sitting of any court shall be guilty of contempt of that court and the court may impose on him a fine of such amount as the court thinks proper.
F3S. 14(2) omitted (12.4.2010) by virtue of Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010 (S.I. 2010/976), arts. 1(2), 15(5), Sch. 18 para. 98(2) (with arts. 28-31); S.I. 2010/977, art. 1(2)