County Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1980

Contempt of court N.I.

55.—(1) If any person—

(a) wilfully insults or acts contumaciously towards the judge of a county court, or a circuit registrar, or any witness, or any officer of the court during his sitting or attendance in court, or in going to or returning from the court; or

(b) wilfully interrupts the proceedings of a county court or otherwise misbehaves in court;

he shall be guilty of a contempt of the court.

(2) Where by virtue of any provision of this Order a person is guilty of contempt of court, any officer of the court or constable, with or without the assistance of any other person, may by order of the judge take the offender into custody and detain him until the rising of the court, and the judge may, if he thinks fit, impose on the offender a fine[F1 not exceeding[F2 £2,500]] in respect of every offence, and in addition or alternatively may by warrant under his hand commit the offender to prison for[F1 a specified period] not exceeding one month.

(3) Any act which under paragraph (1) is a contempt of court shall be a contempt of court if committed during the hearing of or in relation to any proceedings heard or to be heard by a judge in chambers or a circuit registrar or by an officer (whether under county court rules or by direction of the judge) and, subject to county court rules, that paragraph shall have effect accordingly.

(4) Without prejudice to the powers conferred on county courts by [F3 Article 107 of the Judgments Enforcement (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 [1981 NI 6] ] or any other statutory provision, a county court shall have the like powers and authorities as the High Court with respect to the enforcement of any decree which, if it were made in any proceedings in the High Court, could be enforced in that court by committal.

F1 1981 c. 49

F2 1994 NI 15

F3 1981 NI 6

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Art. 55 applied (1.4.2016) by Public Services Ombudsman Act (NorthernIreland) 2016 (c. 4), ss. 53(5), 64