A CORONAVIRUS alert has been sparked at Greenock Sheriff Court after an out-of-town lawyer who took part in a jury trial became ill.

It is understood that the man had previously been in the company of a now-confirmed sufferer of the COVID-19 illness sweeping the world.

The solicitor — a senior partner at a Glasgow law firm — is said to have began complaining of 'feeling unwell' during the course of the trial in Court 1 on Monday.

He did not return to the building because the prosecution case against serious assault accused man Samuel Bonnar collapsed and Mr Bonnar was formally found not guilty.

Court sources told the Telegraph that the lawyer was in the company of a virus-stricken friend who had recently returned from a ski holiday in northern Italy.

The solicitor is now understood to be 'self isolating' as a precautionary measure.

However, court staff worried that they and others could be at risk of developing symptoms of Coronavirus are concerned at an apparent lack of action by bosses.

One source said: "If we are serious about preventing the spread of this deadly illness then everyone working in that court that day should have been given the option of self-isolating.

"People are angry that senior members of staff are well aware of the circumstances regarding this lawyer but no-one has been tested to see if they have coronavirus."

Another court source said: "People are worried, but things are just carrying on as normal.

"I would have thought that Court 1 should have been thoroughly cleaned at the very least."

Meanwhile, tea bar volunteers at the court's charity fundraising Greenbean Cafe are taking extra precautions in response to the virus outbreak.

Workers are no longer washing and reusing plastic spoons used for stirring teas and coffees and all freshly prepared food is being kept in containers.

One volunteer said: "You can't be too careful the way things are just now."

The Telegraph contacted the lawyer's company for comment on the court coronavirus scare but no-one returned our call.

The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) say that Health Protection Scotland guidance is being followed at Greenock and all courts throughout the country.

An SCTS spokesman said: "We will not comment on any individual circumstances."

Advice published online by the service states: "We recognise that the outbreak of COVID-19 may raise some concerns for individuals attending our courts.

"In line with current coronavirus medical advice we expect jurors and other service users to continue attending for business as usual if they are healthy and not displaying symptoms.

"If you have received medical advice to self-isolate that means you should not attend court or any SCTS buildings, and you will not be expected to do so.

"Our priority for the duration of the outbreak is supporting the public health response — protecting staff, courts and tribunals users.

"Our response to the outbreak reflects current Government and NHS guidance on what we, as an organisation, and you, the public and other court users, should be doing to minimise and contain the virus' spread."