Criminal Procedure Act 2010
Acts of the Oireachtas
Source: Acts of the Oireachtas

num: 1
paragraphs: — (1) This Act may be cited as the Criminal Procedure Act 2010.
(2) This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister may appoint by order or orders either generally or with reference to any particular purpose or provision and different days may be so appointed for different purposes or different provisions.
num: 2
paragraphs: — (1) In this Act unless the context otherwise requires—
“Act of 1962” means the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 ;
“Act of 1967” means the Criminal Procedure Act 1967 ;
“Act of 1993” means the Criminal Justice Act 1993 ;
“broadcast” has the meaning it has in section 2 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 ;
“children detention school” has the meaning it has in section 3 (1) of the Children Act 2001 ;
“Director” means the Director of Public Prosecutions;
“legal aid (Supreme Court) certificate” has the meaning it has in the Act of 1962;
“legal aid (trial on indictment) certificate” has the meaning it has in the Act of 1962;
“Minister” means the Minister for Justice and Law Reform;
“prison” has the meaning it has in section 2 of the Prisons Act 2007 ;
“publication” means publication, other than by way of broadcast, to the public or a portion of the public.
(2) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, references to—
(a) a jury shall, in relation to proceedings conducted before a court sitting without a jury, be construed as references to that court, and
(b) a person being sent forward for trial include, where appropriate, references to such a person being sent or being sent forward for trial to, or charged before, a Special Criminal Court.
num: 3
paragraphs: — The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
num: 4
paragraphs: — The Act of 1993 is amended by the substitution of the following section for section 5:
“Effect of certain offences on persons in respect of whom offence committed.
num: 5
paragraphs: — (1) This section applies to—
(a) a sexual offence within the meaning of the Criminal Evidence Act 1992 ,
(b) an offence involving violence or the threat of violence to a person,
(c) an offence under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 , and
(d) an offence consisting of attempting or conspiring to commit, or aiding, abetting, counselling, procuring or inciting the commission of, an offence mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) or (c).
(2) (a) When imposing sentence on a person for an offence to which this section applies, a court shall take into account, and may, where necessary, receive evidence or submissions concerning, any effect (whether long-term or otherwise) of the offence on the person in respect of whom the offence was committed.
(b) For the purposes of paragraph (a), a ‘person in respect of whom the offence was committed’ includes, where, as a result of the offence, that person has died, is ill or is otherwise incapacitated, a family member of that person.
(3) (a) When imposing sentence on a person for an offence to which this section applies, a court shall, upon application by the person in respect of whom such offence was committed, hear the evidence of the person in respect of whom the offence was committed as to the effect of the offence on such person.
(b) For the purpose of paragraph (a), where the person in respect of whom the offence was committed—
(i) is a child under the age of 14 years, the child, or his or her parent or guardian, may give evidence as to the effect of the offence concerned on that child,
(ii) is—
(I) a person with a mental disorder (not resulting from the offence concerned), the person or a family member,
(II) a person with a mental disorder (not resulting from the offence concerned), who is a child, the person or his or her parent or guardian,
may give evidence as to the effect of the offence concerned on that person,
(iii) is a person who is ill or is otherwise incapacitated as a result of the offence, a family member of the person may give evidence as to the effect of the offence concerned on that person and on his or her family members,
(iv) has died as a result of the offence, a family member of the person may give evidence as to the effect of the offence concerned—
(I) on the person between the commission of the offence and his or her death (where relevant), and
(II) on the family members of the person who has died.
(c) A person who has been convicted of an offence to which this section applies may not give evidence pursuant to paragraph (b) in respect of that offence.
(d) Where more than one family member seeks to avail of paragraph (b), the court may direct the family members to nominate one or more family members for the purpose of that paragraph.
(e) Where the court directs the family members to nominate one or more family members pursuant to paragraph (d) and the family members are unable to reach agreement, the court may, having regard to the degree of relationship between the family members and the person in respect of whom the offence was committed, nominate one or more family members as it considers appropriate.
(4) Where no evidence is given pursuant to subsection (3), the court shall not draw an inference that the offence had little or no effect (whether long-term or otherwise) on the person in respect of whom the offence was committed or, where appropriate, on his or her family members.
(5) (a) The court may, in the interests of justice, order that information relating to the evidence given under subsection (3) or a part of it shall not be published or broadcast.
(b) If any matter is published or broadcast in contravention of paragraph (a), the following persons, namely—
(i) in the case of a publication in a newspaper or periodical, any proprietor, any editor and any publisher of the newspaper or periodical,
(ii) in the case of any other publication, the person who publishes it, and
(iii) in the case of a broadcast, any person who transmits or provides the programme in which the broadcast is made and any person having functions in relation to the programme corresponding to those of the editor of a newspaper,
shall be guilty of an offence.
(c) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (b) shall be liable—
(i) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both, or
(ii) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding €50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
(d) Where an offence under paragraph (b) is committed by a body corporate and is proved to have been so committed with the consent, connivance or approval of or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of a person being a director, manager, secretary or other officer of the body corporate or any other person who was acting or purporting to act in any such capacity, that person as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of an offence and be liable to be proceeded against and punished as if he or she were guilty of the first-mentioned offence.
(e) Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, paragraph (d) shall apply in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with his or her functions of management as if he or she were a director or manager of the body corporate.
(6) In this section and in sections 5A and 5B, unless the context otherwise requires—
‘broadcast’ has the meaning it has in section 2 of the Broadcasting Act 2009 ;
‘child’ means a person under the age of 18;
‘family member’ means—
(a) a spouse or partner of the person,
(b) a child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, nephew or niece of the person,
(c) a person who is acting in loco parentis to the person,
(d) a dependant of the person, or
(e) any other person whom the court considers to have had a close connection with the person;
‘guardian’, in relation to a child, has the meaning it has in the Children Act 2001 ;
‘mental disorder’ includes a mental illness, mental disability, dementia or any disease of the mind;
‘publish’ means publish, other than by way of broadcast, to the public or a portion of the public.”.
num: 5
paragraphs: — The Act of 1993 is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 5:
“5A.— (1) (a) A child or a person with a mental disorder in respect of whom an offence to which section 5 applies was committed, may give evidence pursuant to section 5(3), whether from within or outside the State, through a live television link unless the court sees good reason to the contrary.
(b) Any other person in respect of whom an offence to which section 5 applies was committed may, with the leave of the court, give evidence pursuant to section 5(3), whether from within or outside the State, through a live television link.
(2) Evidence given under subsection (1) shall be videorecorded.
(3) While evidence is being given pursuant to subsection (1) (except through an intermediary pursuant to section 5B(1)), neither the judge, nor the barrister or solicitor concerned in the examination of the witness, shall wear a wig or gown.”.
num: 6
paragraphs: — The Act of 1993 is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 5A:
“5B.— (1) Where a child or a person with a mental disorder is giving, or is to give evidence through a live television link, pursuant to section 5A, the court may, on the application of the prosecution or the accused, if satisfied that, having regard to the age or mental condition of the witness, the interests of justice require that any questions to be put to the witness be put through an intermediary, direct that any such questions be so put.
(2) Questions put to a witness through an intermediary under this section shall be either in the words used by the questioner or so as to convey to the witness in a way which is appropriate to his or her age and mental condition, the meaning of the questions being asked.
(3) An intermediary referred to in subsection (1) shall be appointed by the court and shall be a person who, in its opinion, is competent to act as such.”.
num: 7
paragraphs: — In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires—
“Act of 1984” means the Criminal Justice Act 1984 ;
“acquittal” includes a verdict of not guilty returned by a jury and a verdict of not guilty returned by a jury by direction of a court;
“application for a re-trial order” means an application under section 8 or 9 ;
“compelling evidence”, in relation to a person, means evidence which—
(a) is reliable,
(b) is of significant probative value, and
(c) is such that a jury might reasonably be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of the person’s guilt in respect of the offence concerned;
“Court” means the Court of Criminal Appeal;
“legal aid (re-trial order) certificate” has the meaning it has in the Act of 1962;
“ new and compelling evidence”, in relation to a person, means evidence—
(a) which was not adduced by the prosecution in the proceedings in respect of which the person was acquitted (nor in any appeal proceedings to which the original proceedings related), and
(b) which could not, with the exercise of due diligence, have been adduced during those proceedings, and
(c) is evidence which—
(i) is reliable,
(ii) is of significant probative value, and
(iii) is such that when taken together with all the other evidence adduced in the proceedings concerned, a jury might reasonably be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of the person’s guilt in respect of the offence concerned;
“offence against the administration of justice” means—
(a) an offence under section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 in so far as the offence concerned relates to criminal proceedings,
(b) an offence under section 41 of the Criminal Justice Act 1999 ,
(c) attempting to pervert the course of justice,
(d) perjury, or
(e) conspiring or inciting another person to commit any of the offences referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d);
“place” includes—
(a) a dwelling or other building,
(b) a vehicle, whether mechanically propelled or not,
(c) a vessel, whether sea-going or not,
(d) an aircraft, whether capable of operation or not,
(e) a hovercraft;
num: 8
paragraphs: — (1) Subject to subsection (7), this section applies where a person—
(a) is, on or after the commencement of this section, sent forward for trial in respect of a relevant offence and is, or
(b) has, before the commencement of this section, been sent forward for trial but has not yet been tried in respect of a relevant offence and is, on or after such commencement,
tried on indictment in respect of the offence, and acquitted of that offence (whether at the trial, on appeal against conviction or on appeal from such a decision on appeal).
(2) For the purposes of this section, a person who has been acquitted of a relevant offence in proceedings referred to in subsection (1) shall be deemed to also have been acquitted of any relevant offence in respect of which he or she could have been convicted in the proceedings concerned by virtue of the first-mentioned offence charged in the indictment, other than an offence for which he or she has been convicted.
(3) The Director may apply to the Court for a re-trial order where it appears to him or her—
(a) that there is new and compelling evidence against a person referred to in subsection (1) in relation to the relevant offence concerned, and
(b) that it is in the public interest to do so.
(4) Only one application for a re-trial order may be made by the Director in respect of a person in relation to a relevant offence that was the subject of the application and no further application may be made irrespective of whether the person concerned is subsequently acquitted of the offence concerned in a re-trial ordered pursuant to an application under this section.
(5) An application for a re-trial order under subsection (3) shall be on notice to the person concerned.
(6) If a person fails to appear before the Court in respect of the hearing of the application, the Court, if it is satisfied that it is, in all the circumstances, in the interests of justice to do so, may proceed to hear and determine the application in the absence of the person.
(7) This section shall not apply to a relevant offence in respect of which a person was the subject of a special verdict under section 5 of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 .
num: 9
paragraphs: — (1) This section applies where—
(a) a person—
(i) is, on or after the commencement of this section, sent forward for trial in respect of an offence (irrespective of whether or not the offence is a relevant offence) and is, or
(ii) has, before the commencement of this section, been sent forward for trial but has not yet been tried in respect of an offence (irrespective of whether or not the offence is a relevant offence) and is, on or after such commencement,
tried on indictment in respect of the offence, and acquitted of that offence (whether at the trial, on appeal against conviction or on appeal from such a decision on appeal), and
(b) the person, or another person, has been convicted of an offence against the administration of justice relating to the proceedings which resulted in the acquittal referred to in paragraph (a).
(2) For the purposes of this section, a person who has been acquitted of an offence in proceedings referred to in subsection (1)(a), shall be deemed to also have been acquitted of any offence in respect of which he or she could have been convicted in the proceedings concerned by virtue of the first-mentioned offence charged in the indictment, other than an offence for which he or she has been convicted.
(3) The Director may apply to the Court for a re-trial order where it appears to him or her—
(a) there is compelling evidence against a person referred to in subsection (1)(a), and
(b) that it is in the public interest to do so.
(4) No application for a re-trial order in respect of a person may be made by the Director under this section where proceedings relating to an offence against the administration of justice referred to in subsection (1) (b) are pending before any court.
(5) Only one application for a re-trial order may be made by the Director in respect of a person in relation to an offence that was the subject of the application and no further application may be made irrespective of whether the person concerned is subsequently acquitted of the offence concerned in a re-trial ordered pursuant to an application under this section.
(6) An application for a re-trial order under subsection (3) shall be on notice to the person concerned.
(7) If a person fails to appear before the Court in respect of the hearing of the application, the Court, if it is satisfied that it is, in all the circumstances, in the interests of justice to do so, may proceed to hear and determine the application in the absence of the person.
(8) For the purposes of subsection (1)(b), the reference to “convicted of an offence”, in relation to a person, includes a reference to the conviction of a person after signing a plea of guilty and being sent forward for sentence under section 13 (2)(b) of the Criminal Procedure Act 1967 .
num: 10
paragraphs: — (1) If on hearing an application under section 8 , the Court is satisfied—
(a) that there is new and compelling evidence against a person referred to in section 8 (1), and
(b) that, having had regard to the matters referred to in subsection (3), it is, in all the circumstances, in the interests of justice to do so,
the Court shall make a re-trial order quashing the person’s acquittal and directing that the person be re-tried for the relevant offence, subject to such conditions and directions (including conditions and directions as to placing a stay on the re-trial) as the Court considers necessary or expedient to ensure the fairness of the re-trial ordered under this subsection.
(2) If on hearing an application under section 9 , the Court is satisfied—
(a) there is compelling evidence against a person referred to in section 9 (1)(a), and
(b) that, having had regard to the matters referred to in subsection (3), it is, in all the circumstances, in the interests of justice to do so,
the Court shall make a re-trial order quashing the person’s acquittal and directing that the person be re-tried for the offence concerned, subject to such conditions and directions (including conditions and directions as to placing a stay on the re-trial) as the Court considers necessary or expedient to ensure the fairness of the re-trial ordered under this subsection.
(3) In determining whether to make an order under subsection (1) or (2), the Court shall have regard to—
(a) whether or not it is likely that any re-trial could be conducted fairly,
(b) the amount of time that has passed since the act or omission that gave rise to the indictment,
(c) the interests of any victim of the offence concerned, and
(d) any other matter which the Court considers relevant to the application.
(4) For the purposes of determining whether to make an order under subsection (1) or (2), the Court may—
(a) order the production of any document, exhibit or other thing connected with the proceedings to which the application relates,
(b) order any person who would have been a compellable witness in the proceedings to which the application relates to attend for examination and be examined before the Court, whether or not the person was called in those proceedings,
(c) receive the evidence, if tendered, of any witness, or
(d) generally make such order as may be necessary for doing justice in the application before the Court.
(5) Evidence may be admitted in a hearing under this section, whether or not it would have been admissible in earlier proceedings against the person who is the subject of the application under section 8 or 9 .
(6) Subject to subsection (1) or (2), where the Court makes a re-trial order, the re-trial shall take place as soon as practicable.
(7) In this section “document”, in relation to an application by the Director under section 9 , includes a transcript of the trial of any person referred to in section 9 (1)(b).
num: 11
paragraphs: — The Act of 1962 is amended—
(a) by the insertion of the following section after section 6B:
“Legal aid (re-trial order) certificate.
6C.— (1) Where—
(a) an application for a re-trial order has been made in relation to a person, and
(b) a certificate for free legal aid (in this Act referred to as a ‘legal aid (re-trial order) certificate’) is granted in respect of him or her by the Court of Criminal Appeal,
the person shall be entitled to free legal aid in the preparation and conduct of his or her case in relation to an application under section 8 or 9 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2010 and to have a solicitor and counsel assigned to him or her for that purpose in such manner as may be prescribed by regulations under section 10 of this Act.
(2) A legal aid (re-trial order) certificate shall be granted in relation to a person in respect of whom an application under section 8 or 9 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2010 has been made if (but only if)—
(a) an application is made therefor,
(b) it appears to the Court of Criminal Appeal that—
(i) the means of the person are insufficient to enable him or her to obtain legal aid, and
(ii) it is essential in the interests of justice that the person should have legal aid in the preparation and conduct of his or her case in relation to the application for a re-trial order.
(3) In this section ‘application for a re-trial order’ has the meaning it has in section 7 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2010.”,
(b) in section 7, by the addition of the following subsection:
“(4) Where a legal aid (re-trial order) certificate has been granted in respect of a person, any fees, costs or other expenses properly incurred in preparing and conducting the person’s case in relation to the application to which the certificate relates shall, subject to the regulations under section 10 of this Act, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.”,
and
(c) in section 9(2), by the substitution of “, a legal aid (protection of persons order) certificate or a legal aid (re-trial order) certificate” for “or a legal aid (protection of persons order) certificate”.
num: 12
paragraphs: — (1) Subject to this section, an application for a re-trial order shall be conducted in open court.
(2) Where the Court is hearing an application for a re-trial order under section 8 or 9 and is satisfied that it is in the interests of justice to do so, it may exclude from the Court during the proceeding—
(a) the public or any portion of the public, or
(b) any particular person or persons,
other than bona fide representatives of the Press.
(3) The Court may, if it considers that it is in the interests of justice to do so, make an order prohibiting the publication or broadcast of—
(a) any evidence given or referred to at a hearing of an application for a re-trial order, or
(b) any matter identifying or having the effect of identifying any person who is the subject of an application for a re-trial order, or any other person connected with the re-trial for which an order is sought under section 8 or 9 .
(4) An order under subsection (3) ceases to have effect (unless it specifies an earlier date)—
(a) when there is no longer any step that could be taken which would lead to the person concerned being re-tried pursuant to a re-trial order, or
(b) where the person concerned is re-tried pursuant to a re-trial order, at the conclusion of the trial.
(5) (a) If any matter is published or broadcast in contravention of subsection (3), the following persons, namely—
(i) in the case of a publication in a newspaper or periodical, any proprietor, any editor and any publisher of the newspaper or periodical,
(ii) in the case of any other publication, the person who publishes it, and
(iii) in the case of a broadcast, any person who transmits or provides the programme in which the broadcast is made and any person having functions in relation to the programme corresponding to those of the editor of a newspaper,
shall be guilty of an offence.
(b) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (a) shall be liable—
(i) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both, or
(ii) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding €50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
(c) Where an offence under paragraph (a) is committed by a body corporate and is proved to have been so committed with the consent, connivance or approval of, or to be attributable to, any neglect on the part of a person being a director, manager, secretary or other officer of the body corporate or any other person who was acting or purporting to act in any such capacity, that person as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of an offence and be liable to be proceeded against and punished as if he or she were guilty of the first-mentioned offence.
(d) Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, paragraph (c) shall apply in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with his or her functions of management as if he or she were a director or manager of the body corporate.
(6) Nothing in this section shall affect the operation of any other enactment that imposes restrictions on the extent to which information relating to court proceedings may be published or broadcast.
num: 13
paragraphs: — (1) Where a person is ordered under subsection (1) or (2) of section 10 to be re-tried for an offence, he or she may, notwithstanding any rule of law, be again indicted and tried and, if found guilty, sentenced for that offence.
(2) In a case to which subsection (1) relates, the Court may—
(a) order that the person concerned be detained in custody or admitted to bail pending the re-trial on such terms as the Court thinks proper,
(b) where the person concerned does not appear before the Court for the hearing and determination of the application, issue a warrant for his or her arrest.
(3) A legal aid (re-trial order) certificate which was granted in relation to the proceedings under section 8 or 9 shall have effect as if it had been granted also in relation to the re-trial ordered in respect of that person.
(4) A person who was not granted a legal aid (re-trial order) certificate and who is the subject of a re-trial order may apply for a legal aid (trial on indictment) certificate and section 3 of the Act of 1962 shall, with any necessary modifications, apply to that application.
num: 14
paragraphs: — (1) An appeal shall lie to the Supreme Court by the acquitted person or the Director from a determination of the Court under subsection (1) or (2) of section 10 if that Court, the Attorney General or the Director certifies that the determination involves a point of law of exceptional public importance and that it is desirable in the public interest that an appeal should be taken to the Supreme Court.
(2) The Supreme Court may, for the purposes of its decision on such an appeal, either—
(a) remit the case to the Court to deal with, or
(b) deal with it itself and for that purpose exercise any powers of that Court under this Part.
(3) Where an appeal has been made to the Supreme Court under subsection (1) and a legal aid (Supreme Court) certificate is granted under subsection (4), or is deemed to have been granted under subsection (5) in respect of the person who is the subject of the appeal, he or she shall be entitled to free legal aid in the preparation and conduct of any argument that he or she wishes to make to that Court and to have a solicitor and counsel assigned to him or her for that purpose in the manner prescribed by regulations under section 10 of the Act of 1962.
(4) The acquitted person may, in relation to proceedings under this section apply for a legal aid (Supreme Court) certificate to the Supreme Court either—
(a) by letter to the registrar of the Supreme Court setting out the facts of the case and the grounds of the application, or
(b) to the Supreme Court itself,
and the Court shall grant the certificate if (but only if) it appears to the Court that the means of the person are insufficient to enable him or her to obtain legal aid.
(5) If a legal aid (re-trial order) certificate was granted under the Act of 1962 in respect of the person in relation to an application for a re-trial order, a legal aid (Supreme Court) certificate shall be deemed to have been granted in respect of him or her in relation to the proceedings under this section.
(6) Section 12 of this Act shall, with any necessary modifications, apply to an appeal under this section as it applies to an application for a re-trial order.
num: 15
paragraphs: — (1) This section applies where a person—
(a) is, on or after the commencement of this section, sent forward for trial in respect of a relevant offence and is, or
(b) has, before the commencement of this section, been sent forward for trial but has not yet been tried in respect of a relevant offence and is, on or after such commencement,
tried on indictment in respect of the offence, and acquitted of that offence (whether at the trial, on appeal against conviction or on appeal from such a decision on appeal).
(2) For the purposes of this section, a person who has been acquitted of a relevant offence in proceedings referred to in subsection (1) shall be deemed to also have been acquitted of any relevant offence in respect of which he or she could have been convicted in the proceedings concerned by virtue of the first-mentioned offence charged in the indictment, other than an offence for which he or she has been convicted.
(3) A member of the Garda SÃ­ochÃ¡na shall not, either with or without the consent of a person referred to in subsection (1), do any of the following in connection with the person’s suspected participation in a relevant offence in respect of which that person was acquitted, except in so far as it is authorised in accordance with the provisions of this Act:
(a) arrest and detain the person;
(b) interview the person;
(c) search the person or cause him or her to be searched;
(d) photograph the person or cause him or her to be photographed;
(e) take or cause to be taken, the person’s fingerprints or palm prints;
(f) take or cause to be taken from the person, a sample for the purposes of forensic testing;
(g) seize and retain for testing or for use as evidence anything in the person’s possession;
(h) search a place owned or occupied, or partly owned or occupied by the person.
num: 16
paragraphs: — (1) A person in respect of whom section 15 applies may be arrested again for a relevant offence in respect of which he or she has been acquitted in accordance with, and only in accordance with, this section.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), a judge of the District Court who is satisfied—
(a) by information on oath by a member of the Garda SÃ­ochÃ¡na not below the rank of superintendent that the member concerned has information regarding a relevant offence in respect of which the person was acquitted which has come to the knowledge of the Garda SÃ­ochÃ¡na only since the person’s acquittal, and
(b) that the information referred to in paragraph (a) is likely to reveal or confirm the existence of new and compelling evidence in relation to the person’s suspected participation in the relevant offence for which his or her arrest is sought,
may authorise the arrest of that person.
(3) A judge of the District Court may authorise the arrest of the person concerned in respect of, and only of, the relevant offence in respect of which the person was acquitted.
(4) A person arrested pursuant to this section—
(a) shall be taken forthwith to a Garda Station and may be detained there for such period or periods as is authorised under section 4 of the Act of 1984, and
(b) subject to this section, shall be dealt with as though he or she had been detained under that section.
(5) If—
(a) at any time during the detention of a person under this section there are no longer reasonable grounds for—
(i) suspecting that the person has committed the relevant offence in respect of which he or she was arrested under this section, or
(ii) believing that his or her detention is necessary for the proper investigation of the relevant offence,
or
(b) by reason of the expiry of the period or periods referred to in subsection (4)(a),
the detention shall be terminated forthwith, and he or she shall without delay be released, unless his or her detention is authorised apart from this section.
(6) Subsections (5) and (5A) of section 4 and section 10 of the Act of 1984 shall not apply to a person arrested and detained under this section.
(7) Proceedings under this section shall be heard otherwise than in public.
(8) This section shall not apply to a relevant offence in respect of which a person was the subject of a special verdict under section 5 of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 .
(9) This section is without prejudice to the power of the Court to issue a warrant for the arrest of a person in respect of whom a re-trial order has been made under subsection (1) of section 10 .
num: 17
paragraphs: — (1) A person in respect of whom section 15 applies who is detained in a prison or a children detention school may be arrested again for a relevant offence in respect of which he or she has been acquitted in accordance with, and only in accordance with, this section.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), a judge of the District Court who is satisfied—
(a) by information on oath by a member of the Garda SÃ­ochÃ¡na not below the rank of superintendent that the member concerned has information regarding a relevant offence in respect of which the person was acquitted which has come to the knowledge of the Garda SÃ­ochÃ¡na only since the person’s acquittal, and
(b) that the information referred to in paragraph (a) is likely to reveal or confirm the existence of new and compelling evidence in relation to the person’s suspected participation in the relevant offence for which his or her arrest is sought,
may authorise the arrest of that person.
(3) A judge of the District Court may authorise the arrest of the person concerned in respect of, and only of, the relevant offence for which the person was acquitted.
(4) A person arrested pursuant to this section—
(a) shall be taken forthwith to a Garda Station and may, subject to subsection (6), be detained there for such period or periods as is authorised under section 4 of the Act of 1984, and
(b) subject to this section, shall be dealt with as though he or she had been detained under that section.
(5) Subsections (4), (5) and (5A) of section 4 and section 10 of the Act of 1984 shall not apply to a person arrested and detained under this section.
(6) If at any time during the detention of a person under this section there are no longer reasonable grounds for—
(a) suspecting that the person has committed the relevant offence in respect of which he or she was arrested under this section, or
(b) believing that his or her detention is necessary for the proper investigation of the relevant offence,
the detention shall be terminated.
(7) On termination of the detention in accordance with subsection (6) or by reason of the expiry of the period or periods referred to in subsection (4)(a), the member of the Garda SÃ­ochÃ¡na in charge of the Garda Station where the person is detained shall transfer him or her, or cause him or her to be transferred back to the governor of the prison or, as the case may be, the Director of the children detention school where the person was detained at the time of the arrest under this section.
(8) Proceedings under this section shall be heard otherwise than in public.
(9) This section shall not apply to a relevant offence in respect of which a person was the subject of a special verdict under section 5 of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 .
(10) Nothing in this section shall affect the power of the Court to issue a warrant for the arrest of a person in respect of whom an order has been made under subsection (1) of section 10 .
num: 18
paragraphs: — (1) A place that is owned or occupied, or partly owned or occupied by a person in respect of whom section 15 applies may be searched in connection with a relevant offence in respect of which he or she has been acquitted in accordance with, and only in accordance with, this section.
(2) A judge of the District Court who is satisfied—
(a) by information on oath by a member of the Garda SÃ­ochÃ¡na not below the rank of superintendent that the member concerned has information regarding a relevant offence in respect of which the person was acquitted which has come to the knowledge of the Garda SÃ­ochÃ¡na since the person’s acquittal,
(b) that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that evidence of, or relating to, the matters referred to in paragraph (a) is to be found in a place owned or occupied or partly owned or occupied by the person concerned,
(c) that the information referred to in paragraph (a) is likely to reveal or confirm the existence of new and compelling evidence in relation to the person’s suspected participation in the relevant offence concerned,
may issue a warrant for the search of that place and any persons found at that place.
(3) A search warrant under this section shall be expressed, and shall operate, to authorise a named member, accompanied by such other members or persons or both as the member thinks necessary—
(a) to enter, at any time or times within one week of the date of issue of the warrant, on production if so requested of the warrant, and if necessary by the use of reasonable force, the place named in the warrant,
(b) to search it and any persons found at that place, and
(c) to seize anything found at that place, or anything found in the possession of a person present at that place at the time of the search, that the member reasonably believes to be evidence of, or relating to, the commission of the relevant offence.
(4) A member acting under the authority of a search warrant under this section may—
(a) require any person present at the place where the search is being carried out to give to the member his or her name and address,
(b) arrest without warrant any person who—
(i) obstructs or attempts to obstruct the member in the carrying out of his or her duties,
(ii) fails to comply with a requirement under paragraph (a), or
(iii) gives a name or address which the member has reasonable cause for believing is false or misleading.
(5) A person who obstructs or attempts to obstruct a member acting under the authority of a search warrant under this section, who fails to comply with a requirement under subsection (4)(a), or who gives a false or misleading name or address to a member shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €3,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or both.
(6) Proceedings under this section shall be heard otherwise than in public.
(7) This section shall not apply to a relevant offence in respect of which a person was the subject of a special verdict under section 5 of the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 .
(8) Nothing in this section shall affect the operation of section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 .
num: 19
paragraphs: — (1) A failure on the part of a member of the Garda SÃ­ochÃ¡na to observe any provision of this Part shall not of itself render that member liable to any criminal or civil proceedings or (without prejudice to the power of the court to exclude evidence at its discretion) shall not of itself affect the admissibility of any evidence obtained otherwise than in accordance with this Part.
(2) A failure on the part of any member of the Garda SÃ­ochÃ¡na to observe any provision of this Part shall render that member liable to disciplinary proceedings.
num: 20
paragraphs: — Nothing in this Part shall affect any right of appeal or review provided by this Act or any other enactment or rule of law.
num: 21
paragraphs: — Section 6 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 shall, with any necessary modifications, apply to communications made to the persons mentioned in that section for the purpose of influencing the making of a decision in relation to an application under this Part as it applies to such communications made for the purposes of making a decision to withdraw or not to initiate criminal proceedings or any particular charge in criminal proceedings.
num: 22
paragraphs: — Rules of court may make provision for the expeditious hearing of—
(a) proceedings under this Part, and
(b) re-trials ordered under section 10 .
num: 23
paragraphs: — (1) Where on or after the commencement of this section, a person is tried on indictment and acquitted of an offence, the Director, if he or she is the prosecuting authority in the trial, or the Attorney General as may be appropriate, may, subject to subsection (3) and section 24 , appeal the acquittal in respect of the offence concerned on a question of law to the Supreme Court.
(2) Where on or after the commencement of this section, a person’s conviction of an offence on indictment is quashed on appeal by the Court of Criminal Appeal and that Court makes no order for the re-trial of the person in respect of the offence, the Director, if he or she is the prosecuting authority in the trial, or the Attorney General as may be appropriate, may, subject to subsection (3) and section 24 , appeal the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeal not to order a re-trial of the offence concerned on a question of law to the Supreme Court.
(3) An appeal under this section shall lie only where—
(a) a ruling was made by a court during the course of a trial referred to in subsection (1) or the hearing of an appeal referred to in subsection (2), as the case may be, which erroneously excluded compelling evidence, or
(b) a direction was given by a court during the course of a trial referred to in subsection (1), directing the jury in the trial to find the person not guilty where—
(i) the direction was wrong in law, and
(ii) the evidence adduced in the proceedings was evidence upon which a jury might reasonably be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of the person's guilt in respect of the offence concerned.
(4) An appeal under this section shall be made on notice to the person who is the subject of the appeal within 28 days, or such longer period not exceeding 56 days as the Supreme Court may, on application to it in that behalf, determine, from the day on which the person was acquitted or the conviction was quashed, as the case may be.
(5) Where a person fails to appear before the Supreme Court in respect of the appeal, the Court, if it is satisfied that it is, in all the circumstances, in the interests of justice to do so, may proceed to hear and determine the appeal in the absence of the person concerned.
(6) For the purposes of considering an appeal under this section the Supreme Court shall hear argument—
(a) by, or by counsel on behalf of, the Director, or as the case may be, the Attorney General,
(b) by the person who is the subject of the appeal or by counsel on his or her behalf, and
(c) if counsel are assigned under subsection (7), by such counsel.
(7) The Supreme Court shall assign counsel to argue in support of the acquittal referred to in subsection (1) or the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeal not to order a re-trial referred to in subsection (2), as the case may be if—
(a) the person who is the subject of the appeal does not wish to be represented or heard under subsection (6)(b), or
(b) notwithstanding the fact that the person concerned exercises his or her right to be represented or heard under subsection (6)(b), the Court considers it desirable in the public interest to do so.
(8) Where an appeal has been made to the Supreme Court under this section and a legal aid (Supreme Court) certificate is granted under subsection (9), or is deemed to have been granted under subsection (10), in respect of the person who is the subject of the appeal he or she shall be entitled to free legal aid in the preparation and conduct of any argument that he or she wishes to make to the Supreme Court and to have a solicitor and counsel assigned to him or her for that purpose in the manner prescribed by regulations under section 10 of the Act of 1962.
(9) The person may, in relation to proceedings under this section apply for a legal aid (Supreme Court) certificate to the Supreme Court either—
(a) by letter to the registrar of the Supreme Court setting out the facts of the case and the grounds of the application, or
(b) to the Supreme Court itself,
and the Court shall grant the certificate if (but only if) it appears to the Court that the means of the person are insufficient to enable him or her to obtain legal aid.
(10) If a legal aid (trial on indictment) certificate was granted under the Act of 1962 in respect of the person concerned in relation to the earlier proceedings in respect of the offence concerned, a legal aid (Supreme Court) certificate shall be deemed to have been granted in respect of him or her in relation to the proceedings under this section.
(11) On hearing an appeal under this section the Supreme Court may—
(a) quash the acquittal or reverse the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeal, as the case may be, and order the person to be re-tried for the offence concerned if it is satisfied—
(i) that the requirements of subsection (3)(a) or (3)(b), as the case may be, are met, and
(ii) that, having regard to the matters referred to in subsection (12), it is, in all the circumstances, in the interests of justice to do so,
or
(b) if it is not so satisfied, affirm the acquittal or the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeal, as the case may be.
(12) In determining whether to make an order under subsection (11)(a), the Supreme Court shall have regard to—
(a) whether or not it is likely that any re-trial could be conducted fairly,
(b) the amount of time that has passed since the act or omission that gave rise to the indictment,
(c) the interest of any victim of the offence concerned, and
(d) any other matter which it considers relevant to the appeal.
(13) (a) The Supreme Court may make an order for a re-trial under this section subject to such conditions and directions as it considers necessary or expedient (including conditions and directions in relation to the staying of the re-trial) to ensure the fairness of the re-trial.
(b) Subject to paragraph (a), where the Supreme Court makes an order for a re-trial under this section, the re-trial shall take place as soon as practicable.
(14) In this section “compelling evidence”, in relation to a person, means evidence which—
(a) is reliable,
(b) is of significant probative value, and
(c) is such that when taken together with all the other evidence adduced in the proceedings concerned, a jury might reasonably be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of the person's guilt in respect of the offence concerned.
num: 24
paragraphs: — No appeal shall lie under section 23 from an acquittal following a re-trial ordered under subsection (1) or (2) of section 10 .
num: 25
paragraphs: — (1) Subject to this section, a proceeding under section 23 shall be conducted in open court.
(2) Where the Supreme Court is conducting a proceeding under section 23 and is satisfied that it is in the interests of justice to do so, it may exclude from the court during the proceeding—
(a) the public or any portion of the public, or
(b) any particular person or persons,
other than bona fide representatives of the Press.
(3) The Supreme Court may, if it considers that it is in the interests of justice to do so, make an order prohibiting the publication or broadcast of—
(a) any evidence given or referred to during the proceeding, or
(b) any matter identifying or having the effect of identifying any person who is the subject of an appeal under section 23 , or any other person connected with the re-trial for which an order is sought.
(4) An order under subsection (3) ceases to have effect (unless it specifies an earlier date)—
(a) when there is no longer any step that could be taken which would lead to the person concerned being re-tried pursuant to an order under section 23 , or
(b) where the person concerned is re-tried pursuant to an order under section 23 , at the conclusion of the trial.
(5) (a) If any matter is published or broadcast in contravention of subsection (3), the following persons, namely—
(i) in the case of a publication in a newspaper or periodical, any proprietor, any editor and any publisher of the newspaper or periodical,
(ii) in the case of any other publication, the person who publishes it, and
(iii) in the case of a broadcast, any person who transmits or provides the programme in which the broadcast is made and any person having functions in relation to the programme corresponding to those of the editor of a newspaper,
shall be guilty of an offence.
(b) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (a) shall be liable—
(i) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both, or
(ii) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding €50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.
(c) Where an offence under paragraph (a) is committed by a body corporate and is proved to have been so committed with the consent, connivance or approval of, or to be attributable to, any neglect on the part of a person being a director, manager, secretary or other officer of the body corporate or any other person who was acting or purporting to act in any such capacity, that person as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of an offence and be liable to be proceeded against and punished as if he or she were guilty of the first-mentioned offence.
(d) Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, paragraph (c) shall apply in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with his or her functions of management as if he or she were a director or manager of the body corporate.
(6) Nothing in this section shall affect the operation of any other enactment that imposes restrictions on the extent to which information relating to court proceedings may be published or broadcast.
num: 26
paragraphs: — (1) Where a person is ordered under section 23 to be re-tried for an offence he or she may, notwithstanding any rule of law, be again indicted and tried and, if found guilty, sentenced for that offence.
(2) In a case to which subsection (1) relates, the Supreme Court may—
(a) order that the person concerned be detained in custody or admitted to bail pending the re-trial on such terms as that Court thinks proper,
(b) where the person does not appear before the Court for the hearing and determination of the appeal, issue a warrant for his or her arrest.
(3) A legal aid (Supreme Court) certificate which was granted in relation to the proceedings under section 23 , or in the case of a person who waived his or her right to be represented in respect of those proceedings and a legal aid (trial on indictment) certificate was granted to him or her in respect of the original proceedings, the legal aid (trial on indictment) certificate, shall have effect as if it had been granted also in relation to a re-trial ordered under section 23 .
num: 27
paragraphs: — Subsection 16 of section 3 of the Criminal Justice Act 1994 is amended, in paragraph (f), by the substitution of the following subparagraph for subparagraph (i):
“(i) (I) when the defendant is acquitted on all counts, or
(II) where the provisions of section 23 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2010 apply to the proceedings—
(A) when the time period for an appeal under that section has expired and no appeal has been made,
(B) where an appeal has been made but no re-trial is ordered, at the conclusion of the appeal proceedings under the section, or
(C) where a re-trial has been ordered, at the conclusion of the re-trial;”.
num: 28
paragraphs: — Nothing in this Chapter shall affect any right of appeal or review provided by this Act or any other enactment or rule of law.
num: 29
paragraphs: — Section 6 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 shall, with any necessary modifications, apply to communications made to the persons mentioned in that section for the purpose of influencing the making of a decision in relation to a proceeding under this Chapter as it applies to such communications made for the purposes of making a decision to withdraw or not to initiate criminal proceedings or any particular charge in criminal proceedings.
num: 30
paragraphs: — Rules of court may make provision for the expeditious hearing of proceedings under section 23 or re-trials ordered under that section.
num: 31
paragraphs: — The Courts of Justice Act 1924 is amended—
(a) in section 29—
(i) by the insertion of the following subsections after subsection (2):
“(2A) Subject to subsection (2B), a person who has appealed his or her conviction to the Court of Criminal Appeal and who has been granted a re-trial by that Court, may, without prejudice to the determination by the Court to grant a re-trial, appeal to the Supreme Court in respect of a matter raised by him or her in the Court of Criminal Appeal in relation to which that Court—
(a) did not make a determination, or
(b) made a determination against him or her.
(2B) A person may only appeal to the Supreme Court where—
(a) the matter which is the subject of the appeal is one that is relevant to the conduct of his or her defence in the re-trial, and
(b) the Court of Criminal Appeal or the Attorney General in any case or, if he or she is the prosecuting authority in the matter, the Director of Public Prosecutions, certifies that the matter involves a point of law of exceptional public importance and that it is desirable in the public interest that the person should take an appeal to the Supreme Court.”,
and
(ii) by the substitution, in subsection (5A) of “(2), (2A), (2B) or (3)” for “(2) or (3)”,
(b) by the substitution of the following section for section 31:
“Appeal from Central Criminal Court.
num: 31
paragraphs: — A person convicted on indictment before the Central Criminal Court may appeal under this Act to the Court of Criminal Appeal.”,
(c) by the substitution of the following section for section 32:
“Court of Criminal Appeal may make certain orders pending determination of appeal.
num: 32
paragraphs: — The Court of Criminal Appeal shall have power to make any order it may think fit, including an order admitting the appellant to bail, pending the determination of his appeal.”,
and
(d) in section 33, by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (1):
“(1) The appeal shall be heard and determined by the Court of Criminal Appeal (‘ the court’ ) on—
(a) a record of the proceedings at the trial and on a transcript thereof verified by the judge before whom the case was tried, and
(b) where the trial judge is of opinion that the record or transcript referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection does not reflect what took place during the trial, a report by him as to the defects which he considers such record or transcript, as the case may be, contains,
with power to the court to hear new or additional evidence, and to refer any matter for report by the said judge.”.
num: 32
paragraphs: — The Offences Against the State Act 1939 is amended, in section 44, by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (1):
“(1) A person convicted by a Special Criminal Court of any offence or sentenced by a Special Criminal Court to suffer any punishment may appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal from such conviction or sentence.”.
num: 33
paragraphs: — The Criminal Justice (Evidence) Act 1924 is amended—
(a) in section (1)(f)—
(i) in subparagraph (ii)—
(I) by the substitution of “questions of any witness” for “questions for the witnesses for the prosecution”, and
(II) by the substitution of “person in respect of whom the offence was alleged to have been committed” for “prosecutor”,
and
(ii) by the insertion of the following subparagraph after subparagraph (iii):
“(iiia) the person has personally or by the person’s advocate asked questions of any witness for the purpose of making, or the conduct of the defence is such as to involve, imputations on the character of a person in respect of whom the offence was alleged to have been committed and who is deceased or is so incapacitated as to be unable to give evidence; or”,
and
(b) by the insertion of the following section after section 1:
“Evidence of character.
1A.— Where a person charged with an offence intends to adduce evidence, personally or by the person’s advocate, of a witness, including the person, that would involve imputations on the character of a prosecution witness or a person in respect of whom the offence is alleged to have been committed and who is either deceased or so incapacitated as to be unable to give evidence, or evidence of the good character of the person—
(a) the person may do so only if he or she—
(i) has given, either personally or by his or her advocate, at least 7 days’ notice to the prosecution of that intention, or
(ii) has applied to the court, citing the reasons why it is not possible to give the notice, and been granted leave to do so,
and
(b) notwithstanding section 1(f), the person may be called as a witness and be asked, and the prosecution may ask any other witness, questions that—
(i) would show that the person has been convicted of any offence other than the one wherewith he or she is then charged, or is of bad character, or
(ii) would show that the person in respect of whom the offence was alleged to have been committed is of good character.”.
num: 34
paragraphs: — (1) An accused shall not call an expert witness or adduce expert evidence unless leave to do so has been granted under this section.
num: 35
paragraphs: — (1) This section applies where property that is to be entered in evidence in a criminal trial is to be—
(a) returned to its owner, or
(b) disposed of,
before the trial begins.
num: 36
paragraphs: — Section 22 of the Courts Act 1991 is amended, in subsection (5), by the deletion of “if the complaint or accusation has been substantiated on oath and”.
num: 37
paragraphs: — The Act of 1967 is amended—
(a) in section 4, by the substitution in subsection (2), of “instituted or continued except by the Attorney General” for “instituted or continued except by, or on behalf or with the consent of, the Attorney General”,
(b) in section 4B, by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (1):
“(1) (a) Subject to subsection (3), the prosecutor shall cause the documents specified in paragraph (b) to be served on the accused or his or her solicitor (if any) not later than 42 days from the date on which—
(i) the accused, on being informed by the District Court of his or her right to be tried by a jury, objects to being tried summarily or the prosecutor informs the court that he or she does not consent to the person being tried summarily for the offence concerned or,
(ii) in the case of an offence in respect of which the prosecutor may elect to prosecute either summarily or on indictment, the prosecutor elects to try the offence on indictment, or
(iii) the District Court determines that the facts alleged do not constitute a minor offence and are not fit to be tried summarily.
(b) The documents referred to in paragraph (a) are:
(i) a statement of the charges against the accused;
(ii) a copy of any sworn information in writing upon which the proceedings were initiated;
(iii) a list of the witnesses the prosecutor proposes to call at the trial;
(iv) a statement of the evidence that is expected to be given by each of them;
(v) a copy of any document containing information which it is proposed to give in evidence by virtue of Part II of the Criminal Evidence Act 1992 ;
(vi) where appropriate, a copy of a certificate under section 6(1) of that Act;
(vii) a list of the exhibits (if any).”,
and
(c) in section 24(5), by the substitution of the following paragraph for paragraph (a):
“(a) If the Court is satisfied that a person who has been remanded in custody is unable to be brought before the Court at the expiration of the period of remand—
(i) by reason of illness or accident, or
(ii) for any other good and sufficient reason,
the Court may, in that person’s absence, remand the person for such further period, which may exceed fifteen days, as the Court considers reasonable.”.
num: 38
paragraphs: — The First Schedule to the Criminal Justice Act 1951 is amended by the insertion of the following reference:
“26. The offence at common law of breach of the peace.”.