The Criminal Justice (Firearms)(Northern Ireland) Order 1988
This Order starts two months after it is made and changes certain firearms-offence maximum penalties to life imprisonment, without affecting punishments for offences committed before commencement.
The Criminal Justice (Firearms)(Northern Ireland) Order 1988 Made Laid before Parliament Coming into Operation At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 26th day of October 1988 Present, The Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council Whereas this Order is made only for purposes corresponding to those of section 44(3) and (4) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988: Now, therefore, Her Majesty, in exercise of the powers conferred by paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Northern Ireland Act 1974 (as modified by section 168 of the said Act of 1988) and of all other powers enabling Her in that behalf, is pleased, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, as follows:— This Order may be cited as the Criminal Justice (Firearms) (Northern Ireland) Order 1988. This Order shall come into operation on the expiration of two months from the day on which it is made. The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 shall apply to Article 1 and the following provisions of this Order as it applies to a Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly. In column 4 of Schedule 2 to the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (maximum punishment for offences), in the entries relating to— Article 18(2) (possession of firearm or imitation firearm while committing offence specified in Schedule 1), and Article 19(1) (carrying firearm or imitation firearm with criminal intent), for “14 years” there shall be substituted “Life imprisonment”. Nothing in paragraph (1) shall affect the punishment for an offence committed before the commencement of this Order. (This note is not part of the Order) This Order is made only for purposes corresponding to those of section 44(3) and (4) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. It increases the maximum punishment which may be imposed on a person convicted of an offence under Article 18(2) or 19 of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (possession of firearm or imitation firearm at time of committing or being arrested for certain offences; carrying firearm or imitation firearm with criminal intent) from fourteen years' imprisonment to life imprisonment. 1988 c. 33 1974 c. 28 1954 c. 33 (N.I.) 1981 NI 2