Trials on indictment without a jury

Preliminary inquiry
3
1
This section applies where a certificate under section 1 has been issued in relation to any trial on indictment of a person charged with one or more indictable offences.
2
In proceedings before a magistrates' court for the offence or any of the offences, if the prosecution requests the court to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the offence the court must grant the request.
3
In subsection (2) “preliminary inquiry” means a preliminary inquiry under the Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/1675 (N.I. 26)).
4
Subsection (2)—
a
applies notwithstanding anything in Article 31 of that Order,
b
does not apply in respect of an offence where the court considers that in the interests of justice a preliminary investigation should be conducted into the offence under that Order, and
c
does not apply in respect of an extra-territorial offence (as defined in section 1(3) of the Criminal Jurisdiction Act 1975 (c. 59)).