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(1)Where a person is arrested under Rule 44 of the Parliamentary Election RulesF1. . . and the resident magistrate who conducts the preliminary [F2inquiry into] or deals summarily with the charge of personation is satisfied that the person charged is really and in truth the person in whose name he applied for a ballot paper, tendered his vote or voted and that the charge of personation has been made against him without reasonable or just cause, or if the agent by whom the charge was made (or someone on behalf of the agent) does not appear before the resident magistrate to support the charge, then the resident magistrate shall make an order in writing on the said agent to pay to the person charged, if he consents to accept it, any sum not exceeding ten or less than five pounds by way of damages and costs.
(2)If a sum ordered to be paid under sub-section (1) is not paid within twenty-four hours after the order has been made, that sum shall be levied by warrant[F3 issued by a lay magistrate] F4..., by distress and sale of the goods and chattels of the agent by whom the charge was made or, if the same are insufficient shall be levied in like manner on the goods and chattels of the candidate by whom the said agent was appointed; and if the said sum is not paid or levied as aforesaid, the person to whom it was ordered to be paid may recover it from the said agent or candidate by civil bill or by action in the High Court.
(3)If the person charged has declared to the resident magistrate his consent to accept the sum awarded under sub-section (1) by way of damages and costs, and if the whole amount of such sum has been paid or tendered to that person, then in that case, but not otherwise, the said agent, candidate and every other person shall be released from all actions and proceedings, civil and criminal, for or in respect of the charge against and the apprehension of the person charged.
F1SI 1985/454
F2Words in s. 110(1) substituted (17.10.2022) by Criminal Justice (Committal Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 4), s. 5(2), Sch. para. 2; S.R. 2022/221, art. 2(d)
F4Words in s. 110(2) repealed (31.10.2016) by Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 9), s. 106(2), Sch. 1 para. 54, Sch. 9 Pt. 1 (with Sch. 8 para. 1); S.R. 2016/387, art. 2(k)(m) (with art. 3)