Northern Ireland Court Service

The Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2009 [S.R. 2009 No. 47]

Notice is hereby given that the Magistrates’ Courts Rules Committee has made the following Rules in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 13 of the Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 after consultation with the Lord Chancellor and with the agreement of the Lord Chief Justice.

The Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2009 [S.R. 2009 No. 47]

These Rules amend the Magistrates’ Courts Rules (Northern Ireland) 1984 so as to allow for the service of summonses and accompanying documentation, served by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, to be proved by means of electronic report. These Rules also take account of the amendments made to Article 24 of the Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 by the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (“the 2003 Order”). The 2003 Order amended Article 24 to allow for a full statement of evidence to be given in evidence at a hearing where the defendant pleads guilty by post.

These Rules will come into operation in the main on 9 March 2009. Those provisions in the Rules which provide for service by means of electronic service will come into operation on 10th April 2009.

Copies of the Rules – Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland 2009 No. 47 may be obtained from The Stationery Office, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast, BT1 4GD.