The Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2021

Citation and Commencement

1.—(1) These Rules shall be cited as the Magistrates’ Courts (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2021.

(2) These Rules shall come into operation on the twenty-first day after the date upon which this instrument is laid before Parliament.

Amendment to the Magistrates’ Courts Rules (Northern Ireland) 1984

2.  The Magistrates’ Courts Rules (Northern Ireland) 1984 (1) are amended as follows:

(1) In Rule 52D—

(a) in sub-paragraph (c), after “Part 1” insert “or Part 2”; and

(b) in sub-paragraph (d), after “section 30” insert “or 31”.

(2) After Rule 52K, insert—

“Record of proceedings by telephone link before a nominated court

52L.— (1) In proceedings before a court nominated pursuant to a notice under section 31(4), the court shall make a record of the evidence given in the presence of the court and the information prescribed in paragraph (2).

(2) The information referred to in paragraph (1) is—

(a) details of the request in respect of which the notice under section 31(4) was given;

(b) the date on which, and place at which, the proceedings under Part 2 of Schedule 2 took place;

(c) the names of the witnesses who gave evidence;

(d) the name of any person who took part in the proceedings as a legal representative or as an interpreter; and

(e) the language in which the evidence was given.

(3) As soon as is reasonably practicable after the proceedings under Part 2 of Schedule 2, the clerk of petty sessions shall send to the external authority that made the request a copy of an extract of so much of the record as relates to the proceedings in respect of that request.

(4) Proceedings before a court nominated pursuant to a notice under section 31(4) shall be heard at an appropriately equipped venue to allow for the recording of evidence.”

(3) In Rule 52M—

(a) for the title, substitute “Restriction on access to records kept under Rules 52I, 52K and 52L”; and

(b) in sub-paragraph (1), for “52I and 52K”, substitute “52I, 52K and 52L”.

Nigel Broderick

Ciaran McQuillan

Debbie Maclam

Eoghan McKenna

Michael Forde

Dated 12th February 2021

Signed by the authority of the Lord Chancellor

In exercise of the powers conferred on me by Article 13 of the Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981, I allow these Rules.

Alex Chalk MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Ministry of Justice

Dated 3rd March 2021