The Crown Court (Amendment) Rules (Northern Ireland) 2021

Amendment to the Crown Court Rules (Northern Ireland) 1979

2.  The Crown Court Rules (Northern Ireland) 1979(1) are amended as follows:

(1) In rule 61—

(a) in the title, after “television” insert “or telephone”;

(b) in sub-paragraph (1), after “links)” insert “or section 31(4) (hearing witnesses in the UK by telephone)”;

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

(d) in sub-paragraph (3), after “section 30(1)” insert “or, as the case may be, section 31(1)”.

(2) After rule 62, insert—

Record of telephone link before a nominated court

62A.— (1) In proceedings before a court nominated pursuant to a notice under section 31(4), the chief clerk 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 name of the witness 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 chief clerk 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.”.

(3) In rule 62B—

(a) for the title, substitute “Restriction on access to records kept under rules 60, 62, and 62A”; and

(b) for “60 and 62”, substitute “60, 62 and 62A”.

(4) After rule 62M, insert the new Part VIIIB set out in the Schedule to these Rules.

(1)

S.R. 1979 No. 90, to which the most recent relevant amendments were made by S.R. 2010 No. 133, S.R. 2011 No. 230, S.R. 2016 No. 297, S.R. 2018 No. 24 and S.I. 2019/908.