The Rules of the Supreme Court (Northern Ireland) (Revision) 1980

Report on reference

4.—(1) The report made by a referee in pursuance of a reference under rule 1 shall be made to the Court and notice thereof served on the parties to the reference.

(2) The referee may in his report submit any question arising therein for the decision of the Court or make a special statement of facts from which the Court may draw such inferences as it thinks fit.

(3) On the receipt of the referee's report, the Court may—

(a) adopt the report in whole or in part;

(b) vary the report;

(c) require an explanation from him;

(d) remit the whole or any part of the question or issue originally referred to him for further consideration by him or any other referee; or

(e) decide the question or issue originally referred to him on the evidence taken before him, either with or without additional evidence.

(4) When the report of the referee has been made, an application to vary the report or remit the whole or any part of the question or issue originally referred may be made on the hearing of the Court of the further consideration of the cause or matter, after giving not less than 4 days notice thereof, and any other application with respect to the report may be made on that hearing without notice.

(5) Where on a reference under rule 1 the Court orders that the further consideration of the cause or matter in question shall not stand adjourned until the receipt of the referee's report, the order may contain directions with respect to the proceedings on the receipt of the report, and the foregoing provisions of this rule shall have effect subject to any such directions.