The Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 — Northern Ireland law | Esheria

The Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981

This provision sets up and interprets the Northern Ireland Magistrates' Courts Order 1981, creates rule-making and administrative powers, and lays out procedure for magistrates' courts and summary-offence hearings.

Jurisdiction
Northern Ireland
Instrument
Order
Version
Undated source snapshot
Language
en
Official source
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confidentiality of proceedings court orders court powers court procedure court process court rules custody and bail debt recovery employer compliance evidence imprisonment for default indictment magistrates' courts maintenance order enforcement preliminary inquiry publication restrictions summary offences summary trial wage deductions

Statute overview

About this statute

This provision sets up and interprets the Northern Ireland Magistrates' Courts Order 1981, creates rule-making and administrative powers, and lays out procedure for magistrates' courts and summary-offence hearings. This provision covers court procedures for indictments, witness evidence, publication restrictions, remand, and some civil debt jurisdiction rules. The court and collecting officer have powers to enforce and vary maintenance-related payments, and people affected must notify the collecting officer of address changes. Domestic proceedings also have publication restrictions. This provision lets a court make an attachment of earnings order and requires the employer to deduct money from the debtor’s earnings and pay it on, subject to protected earnings and notice rules. A magistrates' court may require a person to enter into a recognizance for keeping the peace or good behaviour, and the provision sets related bail, appeal, and enforcement powers.

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