High Court / Central Criminal Court

When the High Court is hearing criminal matters it is known as the Central Criminal Court. In criminal matters, the High Court Judge sits with a jury of twelve. However, a verdict need not be unanimous in a case where there are at least eleven jurors if ten of them agree on a verdict after a reasonable time has passed (not less than two hours).

A person refused bail in the District Court can apply to the High Court for bail. A person granted bail in the District Court can apply to the High Court to vary the conditions of bail. A person charged with murder can only apply to the High Court for bail.

The following types and categories of offences must be heard by the Central Criminal Court sitting with a judge and jury:

• Treason
• Encouragement or concealing knowledge of treason
• Offences relating to the obstruction of government and obstruction of the President
• Murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder
• Piracy
• Offences under the Genocide Act, 1973
• Rape, aggravated sexual assault and attempted aggravated sexual assault under the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990

The information on this page was obtained from:

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/courts_system/high_court.html

Dated : 3/2/2014

This page is reproduced under licence ( PSI GENERAL LICENCE No.: 2005/08/01) from the copyright owner, the  Citizens Information Board and complies with the regulations on the Re-use of Public Sector Information (European Communities (Re-use of Public Sector Information) Regulations 2005 (SI 279 of 2005))