42Hearings open to public unless Tribunal directs otherwise

42 Hearings open to public unless Tribunal directs otherwise (1) A hearing conducted by the Tribunal in relation to a matter is to be open to the public unless the Tribunal directs— (a) that the whole or any part of the hearing is to be closed to members of the public; or (b) that only persons or classes of persons specified by it may be present during the whole or any part of the hearing. (2) A direction under this section may be given on the application of a party or on the Tribunal's own initiative. (3) The Tribunal must give a direction under this section if an application for the giving of the direction is made by— (a) an applicant who is a primary victim of an act of violence and who the Tribunal is satisfied is a person— (i) whose injury resulted from an offence referred to in paragraph (b) of the definition of ***relevant offence*** in section 3; or (ii) who is a child; or S. 42(3)(a)(iii) amended by No. 2/2006 s. 46. (iii) with a cognitive impairment; or (b) an applicant who the Tribunal is satisfied is likely— (i) to suffer distress; or (ii) to feel intimidated or be stressed— if the direction is not given. S. 42A inserted by No. 54/2000 s. 15.