The Magistrates' Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981

Representation N.I.

Appearance by counsel or solicitor N.I.

164.—(1) A party to any proceedings before a magistrates' court may be represented by counsel or solicitor; and an absent party so represented shall, except where any provision in any enactment (including this Order) or any condition of a recognizance expressly requires his presence, be deemed not to be so absent.

(2) Where a magistrates' court is satisfied that a party to proceedings is unable through illness or other reasonable cause to appear, the court may grant special leave to the father, son, mother, daughter,[F1 spouse, civil partner], brother or sister of such party to appear and be heard.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1), counsel or solicitor shall be construed subject to Article 5 of the European Communities (Services of Lawyers) Order 1978 [F2 , as it has effect by virtue of regulation 5 of the Services of Lawyers and Lawyer’s Practice (Revocation etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020] F3 .

F1 2004 c. 33 (amending legislation states to subst. these words in para. (3) not (2)).

F2 Words in art. 164(3) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Services of Lawyers and Lawyer’s Practice (Revocation etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1342), reg. 1(1), Sch. para. 5 (with Sch. para. 13)

F3 SI 1978/1910

Conduct of proceedings by police officer N.I.

165.  Where in proceedings before a magistrates' court the complainant is a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the court may allow a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary not below the rank of Inspector to conduct proceedings on behalf of the complainant.

Corporations N.I.

166.  The provisions of Schedule 4 shall apply where a corporation is charged with an indictable offence before a magistrates' court.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Art. 166 applied (20.1.2007 for certain purposes, 6.4.2007 for certain purposes, 1.10.2007 for certain purposes, 6.4.2008 for certain purposes, 1.10.2008 for certain purposes, otherwise 1.10.2009) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), ss. 1130(2)(b)(iii), 1300(2) (with s. 1133); S.I. 2006/3428, art. 3(2)(b) (subject to art. 5, Sch. 1 and with arts. 6,8, Sch. 5); S.I. 2007/1093, art. 2(2)(c) (with art. 11(1)); S.I. 2007/2194, art. 2(1)(l)(3)(h) (with art. 12); S.I. 2007/3495, arts. 3(3)(g), 5(3)(a) (with arts. 7, 12); S.I. 2008/2860, art. 3(s) (with art. 8)

C2 Art. 166 applied (6.4.2008) by Companies Act 2006 (c. 46), ss. 1257(4), 1300(2); S.I. 2007/3495, art. 3(1)(u) (with arts. 7, 12)

C3 Art. 166 applied (31.3.2010) by Horse Passports Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010 (S.R. 2010/40), reg. 22(2)(b)

C4 Art. 166 applied (31.1.2016) by The Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015 (S.R. 2015/425), regs. 1(1), 27(5)(b) (with reg. 29)

C5 Art. 166 applied (13.7.2016) by The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Transparency of Securities Financing Transactions and of Reuse) Regulations 2016 (S.I. 2016/715), regs. 1(2), 27(4)(c)

C6 Art. 166 applied (29.3.2019) by The Equine Identification Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 (S.R. 2019/67), regs. 1, 20(2)(b)

C7 Art. 166 applied (6.7.2020 at 1.00 p.m.) by The Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/680), regs. 1(2), 35(3)(b)(ii)

C8 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Iraq (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/707), regs. 1(2), 53(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 14(2)

C9 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Burma (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (revoked) 2019 (S.I. 2019/136), regs. 1(2), 54(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2019/627, reg. 4(2) 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C10 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Chemical Weapons (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/618), regs. 1(2), 34(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2019/627, reg. 14(2) 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C11 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Syria (United Nations Sanctions) (Cultural Property) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1233), regs. 1(2), 22(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 19

C12 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Sudan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/753), regs. 1(2), 53(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 15(2)

C13 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Lebanon (Sanctions) (Assassination of Rafiq Hariri and others) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/617), regs. 1(2), 28(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 11(2)

C14 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Central African Republic (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/616), regs. 1(2), 52(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 10(2)

C15 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Zimbabwe (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/604), regs. 1(2), 52(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2019/627, reg. 13(2) 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C16 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/600), regs. 1(2), 51(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2019/627, reg. 12(2) 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C17 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Mali (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/705), regs. 1(2), 35(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 13(2)

C18 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Yemen (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1278), regs. 1(2), 52(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 20(2)

C19 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Guinea (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1145), regs. 1(2), 33(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 3(2)

C20 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Lebanon (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/612), regs. 1(2), 27(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 9

C21 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/411), regs. 1(2), 113(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2019/627, reg. 7(2) 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C22 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Libya (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1665), regs. 1(3), 69(3)(b)(ii)

C23 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/792), regs. 1(3), 82(3)(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C24 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Venezuela (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/135), regs. 1(2), 54(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2019/627, reg. 3(2) 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C25 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Nicaragua (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/610), regs. 1, 33(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 8(2)

C26 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Burundi (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1142), regs. 1(2), 33(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 2(2)

C27 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/855), regs. 1(2), 83(3)(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C28 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Republic of Guinea-Bissau (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/554), regs. 1(2), 34(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2019/627, reg. 10(2) 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C29 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Democratic Republic of the Congo (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/433), regs. 1(2), 52(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2019/627, reg. 5(2) 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C30 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Cyber (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/597), regs. 1(2), 33(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 6(2)

C31 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida (United Nations Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/466), regs. 1(2), 42(3)(ii); S.I. 2019/627, reg. 9(2) 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C32 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Iran (Sanctions) (Human Rights) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/134), regs. 1(2), 54(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2019/627, reg. 2(2) 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C33 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Afghanistan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/948), regs. 1(2), 41(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 16(2)

C34 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Somalia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/642), regs. 1(2), 66(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 12(2)

C35 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Counter-Terrorism (International Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/573), regs. 1(2), 45(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2019/627, reg. 11(2) 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C36 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The South Sudan (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/438), regs. 1(2), 52(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2019/627, reg. 6(2) 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C37 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Iran (Sanctions) (Nuclear) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/461), regs. 1(2), 59(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2019/627, reg. 8(2) 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

C38 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Misappropriation (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (revoked) 2020 (S.I. 2020/1468), regs. 1(2), 34(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 23(2)

C39 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Counter-Terrorism (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/577), regs. 1(2), 31(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2020/1416, reg. 2(2)

C40 Art. 166 applied (31.12.2020) by The Unauthorised Drilling Activities in the Eastern Mediterranean (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1474), regs. 1(2), 34(3)(b)(ii); S.I. 2020/1514, reg. 24(2)

C41 Art. 166 applied (26.4.2021 at noon) by The Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/488), regs. 1(2), 34(3)(b)(ii)

C42 Art. 166 applied (29.4.2021 at. 5.00 pm) by The Myanmar (Sanctions) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/496), regs. 1(3), 63(3)(b)(ii)

C43 Art. 166 applied (14.12.2021) by The Burundi (Sanctions) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1404), regs. 1(2), 34(3)(b)(ii)

C44 Art. 166 applied (28.12.2022) by The Haiti (Sanctions) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/1281), regs. 1(2), 43(3)(b)(ii)

C45 Art. 166 applied (14.12.2023) by The Iran (Sanctions) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1314), regs. 1(2), 82(3)(b)(ii) (with regs. 98-100)

C46 Art. 166 applied (10.1.2024 for specified purposes) by Online Safety Act 2023 (c. 50), ss. 203(3)(b)(ii), 240(1); S.I. 2023/1420, reg. 2(z25)