SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 27Use of live links in legal proceedings: Northern Ireland

C1C2C3C4C5PART 1Powers of courts and tribunals to direct use of live links

Annotations:
Modifications etc. (not altering text)

Proceedings to which this Part of this Schedule applies

1

1

This Part of this Schedule applies to any proceedings in a court or statutory tribunal.

2

In this Part of this Schedule “court” means—

a

the Court of Appeal,

b

the High Court,

c

the Crown Court,

d

a county court, or

e

a magistrates' court.

3

In this Part of this Schedule “statutory tribunal” means a tribunal (however named or described, and including a coroner holding an inquest) established by or under a statutory provision, but does not include—

a

a court, or

b

any tribunal established by or under a statutory provision that could not have been included in an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly made without the Secretary of State's consent.

4

In this paragraph “statutory provision” has the meaning given by section 1(f) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954.

Effect, and rescission, of directions

3

1

Where in any proceedings a court or tribunal—

a

has given a direction under paragraph 2 in respect of a person, and

b

has not rescinded the direction,

the person may not participate in the proceedings otherwise than through a live link.

2

A court or tribunal may rescind a direction under paragraph 2 if it appears to the court or tribunal to be in the interests of justice to do so.

3

Where it does so, the person concerned ceases to be able to participate in the proceedings through a live link, but this does not prevent a further direction under paragraph 2 being given in the proceedings in respect of the person.

4

A direction under paragraph 2 in respect of a person may be rescinded—

a

of the court or tribunal's own motion,

b

on application by the person, or

c

on application by a party to the proceedings.

5

An application may not be made under sub-paragraph (4)(b) or (c) unless there has been a material change of circumstances since the direction was given.

6

Where a court or tribunal rescinds a direction under paragraph 2, or refuses an application to rescind such a direction, it must—

a

state openly its reasons for rescinding the direction or refusing the application, and

b

if it is a magistrates' court, cause the reasons to be entered in the Order Book.

Meaning of references to participation in proceedings

4

A reference in this Part of this Schedule to participating in any proceedings includes (in particular) participation—

a

as a party to the proceedings,

b

as a witness,

c

as a judge or other member of the court or tribunal,

d

as a member of a jury,

e

as a legal representative acting in the proceedings,

f

as an interpreter or other person appointed by the court or tribunal to assist in the proceedings,

g

as the clerk to the court or tribunal, or

h

as a representative of the press.

Participation by persons outside the United Kingdom

5

1

A direction under paragraph 2 may be given in respect of a person whether the person is in the United Kingdom or elsewhere.

2

A statement made on oath by a person outside the United Kingdom and given in evidence through a live link in accordance with a direction under paragraph 2 is to be treated for the purposes of Article 3 of the Perjury (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (S.I. 1979/1714 (N.I. 19)) as having been made in the proceedings in which it is given in evidence.

Interpretation of this Part of this Schedule: general

7

The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 applies for the purposes of the preceding provisions of this Part of this Schedule as if those provisions were contained in an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly.