Civil Service (Special Advisers) Act (Northern Ireland) 2013

Meaning of “serious criminal conviction”

5.—(1) In this Act “serious criminal conviction” means a conviction for an offence for which—

(a) a sentence of immediate imprisonment of 5 years or more was imposed,

(b) a sentence of imprisonment for life was imposed,

(c) an indeterminate custodial sentence under Article 13 of the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 was imposed,

(d) a sentence of detention during the pleasure of the Secretary of State or the Minister of Justice, or for life, or for 5 years or more, was imposed under Article 45 of the Criminal Justice (Children) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (children convicted of grave crimes), or

(e) a sentence of detention during the pleasure of the Governor or the Secretary of State, or for life, or for 5 years or more, was imposed under section 73 of the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 (children convicted of grave crimes).

(2) This section applies whether the person—

(a) was convicted in Northern Ireland or elsewhere,

(b) was convicted before or after the coming into operation of this section.

(3) Where the person was convicted in a country or territory outside Northern Ireland, the references in subsection (1)(c), (d) and (e) to sentences are to be read as references to equivalent sentences in the country or territory in which the person was convicted.