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Uimhir 12 de 1962.
AN tACHT UM CHEARTAS COIRIÚIL (CÚNAMH DLÍTHIÚIL), 1962.
[An tiontú oifigiúil.]
Mínithe.
1.—San Acht seo, ach amháin mar a n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt—
folaíonn “breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche” Uachtarán na Cúirte Dúiche ;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Dlí agus Cirt.
Deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (An Chúirt Dúiche).
2.—(1) Má fheictear don Chúirt Dúiche—
(a) nach leor acmhainn duine a chúiseofar i gcion os a comhair chun go mbeadh ar a chumas cúnamh dlíthiúil a fháil, agus
(b) mar gheall ar thromaíocht an chúisimh nó ar imthosca eisceachtúla gur gá, ar mhaithe leis an gceartas, go mbeadh cúnamh dlíthiúil aige chun a chosaint a ullmhú agus a stiúradh os a comhair,
déanfaidh an Chúirt, ar iarratas fao na choinne sin a dhéanamh chuici, deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil in aisce (dá ngairtear deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (An Chúirt Dúiche) san Acht seo) a dheonú ina leith agus air sin beidh sé i dteideal an cúnamh sin a fháil agus aturnae agus (i gcás é a chúiseamh i ndúnmharú agus inar cuí leis an gCúirt é) abhcóide a shannadh dó chun na críche sin i cibé slí a bheidh ordaithe le rialacháin faoi alt 10 den Acht seo.
(2) Is cinneadh críochnaitheach cinneadh na Cúirte Dúiche maidir le hiarratas faoin alt seo agus ní bheidh sé inachomhairc.
Deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (triailar dhíotáil).
3.—(1) I gcás—
(a) ina gcuirfear duine chun a thrialach i gcion indíotáilte, agus
(b) ina ndeonófar deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil in aisce (dá ngairtear deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (triail ar dhíotáil) san Acht seo) ina leith ag an gCúirt Dúiche ar é a chur chun a thrialach, nó ag breitheamh na cúirte a mbeidh sé le triail, nó á thriail, os a comhair,
beidh an duine sin i dteideal cúnamh dlíthiúil in aisce a fháil chun a chosaint ag an triail a ullmhú agus a stiúradh agus i dteideal aturnae agus abhcóide a shannadh dó chun na críche sin i cibé slí a bheidh ordaithe le rialacháin faoi alt 10 den Acht seo.
(2) Deonófar deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (triail ar dhíotáil) i leith duine a chuirfear chun a thrialach i gcion indíotáilte más rud é (ach ar an gcuntar sin amháin)—
(a) go ndéanfar iarratas faoina choinne sin,
(b) go bhfeicfear don Chúirt Dúiche nó do bhreitheamh na cúirte a mbeidh an duine sin le triail, nó á thriail, os a comhair nach leor acmhainn an duine sin chun go mbeadh ar a chumas cúnamh dlíthiúil a fháil, agus
(c) (i) gur ar chúiseamh i ndúnmharú a chuirfear chun a thrialach é, nó
(ii) go bhfeicfear don Chúirt Dúiche nó do bhreitheamh na cúirte a mbeidh an duine le triail, nó á thriail, os a comhair, ag féachaint d'imthosca uile an cháis (lena n-áirítear an cineál cosanta (más ann) a bheidh curtha suas) gur gá, ar mhaithe leis an gceartas, go mbeadh cúnamh dlíthiúil ag an duine chun a chosaint a ullmhú agus a stiúradh ag an triail.
Deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (achomharc).
4.—(1) I gcás—
(a) ina gciontófar duine i gcion, agus
(b) ina ndeonófar deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil in aisce (dá ngairtear deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (achomharc) san Acht seo) ina leith ag an gCúirt Dúiche nó ag breitheamh na cúirte ar triaileadh os a comhair é nó faoi fho-alt (3) den alt seo.
beidh an duine sin i dteideal cúnamh dlíthiúil in aisce a fháil chun achomharc a ullmhú agus a stiúradh in aghaidh an chiontaithe nó an phionóis a gearradh air (má gearradh) ar é a chiontú agus i dteideal aturnae agus (más achomharc chun na Cúirte Achomhairc Choiriúil é) abhcóide a shannadh dó chun na críche sin i cibé slí a bheidh ordaithe le rialacháin faoi alt 10 den Acht seo.
(2) Deonófar deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (achomharc) i leith duine a chiontófar i gcion más rud é (ach ar an gcuntar sin amháin)—
(a) go ndéanfar iarratas faoina choinne sin,
(b) go bhfeicfear don Chúirt Dúiche nó do bhreitheamh na cúirte ar triaileadh an duine sin os a comhair nach leor a acmhainn chun go mbeadh ar a chumas cúnamh dlíthiúil a fháil, agus
(c) (i) gur ciontú i ndúnmharú é, nó
(ii) go bhfeicfear don Chúirt Dúiche nó do bhreitheamh na cúirte ar triaileadh an duine os a comhair, mar gheall ar thromaíocht an chiona nó ar imthosca eisceachtúla gur gá, ar mhaithe leis an gceartas, go mbeadh cúnamh dlíthiúil ag an duine sin chun achomharc a ullmhú agus a stiúradh.
(3) I gcás ina ndiúltófar deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (achomharc) do dhuine ar é a chiontú i gcion, féadfaidh sé an deimhniú a iarraidh ar an gcúirt a bhféadfar achomharc a dhéanamh chuici in aghaidh an chiontaithe—
(a) trí litir a sheoladh chuig cláraitheoir na cúirte sin ag tabhairt fíorais an cháis agus forais an iarratais, nó
(b) trí iarratas chun na cúirte féin,
agus deonóidh an chúirt an deimhniú más rud é (ach ar an gcuntar sin amháin)—
(i) go bhfeicfear don chúirt nach leor acmhainn an duine sin chun go mbeadh ar a chumas cúnamh dlíthiúil a fháil, agus
(ii) (I) gur ciontú i ndúnmharú é, nó
(II) go bhfeicfear don chúirt, mar gheall ar thromaíocht an chiona nó ar imthosca eisceachtúla gur gá, ar mhaithe leis an gceartas, go mbeadh cúnamh dlíthiúil ag an duine ciontaithe chun achomharc a ullmhú agus a stiúradh.
Deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (cás sonraithe).
5.—(1) I gcás—
(a) ina gcúiseofar duine i gcion os comhair na Cúirte Dúiche nó na Cúirte Cuarda nó ina ndéanfaidh sé achomharc chun na Cúirte Cuarda in aghaidh ciontú i gcion ag an gCúirt Dúiche agus ina ndéanfaidh an breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche nó breitheamh na cúirte (cibé acu é) a n-éistfear an cúiseamh nó an t-achomharc (cibé acu é) os a comhair ceist dlí a éireoidh as na himeachtaí a tharchur chun na hArd-Chúirte nó chun na Cúirte Uachtaraí (cibé acu é) i bhfoirm cáis shonraithe nó ina sonróidh an breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche cás maidir leis na himeachtaí chun tuairim na hArd-Chúirte a fháil, agus
(b) ina ndeonófar deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil in aisce (dá ngairtear deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (cás sonraithe) san Acht seo) i leith an duine sin ag an gcúirt a n-éistfear an cúiseamh nó an t-achomharc (cibé acu é) os a comhair nó faoi fho-alt (3) den alt seo,
beidh an duine sin i dteideal cúnamh dlíthiúil in aisce a fháil chun a chás i ndáil leis an gcás sonraithe a ullmhú agus a stiúradh agus i dteideal aturnae agus abhcóide a shannadh dó chun na críche sin i cibé slí a bheidh ordaithe le rialacháin faoi alt 10 den Acht seo.
(2) I gcás ina gcúiseofar duine i gcion os comhair na Cúirte Dúiche nó na Cúirte Cuarda nó ina ndéanfaidh sé achomharc chun na Cúirte Cuarda in aghaidh ciontú i gcion ag an gCúirt Dúiche agus ina ndéanfaidh an breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche nó breitheamh na cúirte a n-éistfear an cúiseamh nó an t-achomharc (cibé acu é) os a chomhair ceist dlí a éireoidh sna himeachtaí a tharchur chun na hArd-Chúirte nó chun na Cúirte Uachtaraí (cibé acu é) i bhfoirm cáis shonraithe nó ina sonróidh an breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche cás i ndáil leis na himeachtaí chun tuairim na hArd-Chúirte a fháil, deonófar deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (cás sonraithe) i leith an duine sin más rud é (ach ar an gcuntar sin amháin)—
(a) go ndéanfar iarratas faoina choinne sin,
(b) go bhfeicfear don chúirt a n-éistfear an cúiseamh nó an t-achomharc (cibé acu é) os a comhair nach leor acmhainn an duine sin chun go mbeadh ar a chumas cúnamh dlíthiúil a fháil, agus
(c) go bhfeicfear don chúirt a n-éistfear an cúiseamh nó an t-achomharc os a comhair, mar gheall ar thromaíocht an chiona inar cúisíodh an duine nó ar imthosca eisceachtúla gur gá, ar mhaithe leis an gceartas, deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (cás sonraithe) a dheonú i leith an duine sin.
(3) Más rud é, maidir le cás sonraithe, go ndiúltóidh an Chúirt Dúiche nó an Chúirt Chuarda deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (cás sonraithe) de dhuine, féadfaidh sé an deimhniú a iarraidh ar an gcúirt ina mbeidh an cás sonraithe le héisteacht—
(a) trí litir a sheoladh chuig cláraitheoir na cúirte sin ag tabhairt fíorais an cháis agus forais an iarratais, nó
(b) trí iarratas chun na cúirte féin,
agus deonóidh an chúirt an deimhniú más rud é (ach ar an gcuntar sin amháin)—
(i) go bhfeicfear don chúirt nach leor acmhainn an duine sin chun go mbeadh ar a chumas cúnamh dlíthiúil a fháil, agus
(ii) go bhfeicfear don chúirt, mar gheall ar thromaíocht an chiona inar cúisíodh an duine nó ar imthosca eisceachtúla gur gá, ar mhaithe leis an gceartas, deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (cás sonraithe) a dheonú i leith an duine sin.
Deimhniú um chúnamh dlíth úil (An Chúirt Uachtarach).
6.—(1) I gcás—
(a) ina gcúiseofar duine i gcion,
(b) ina dtabharfar achomharc chun na Cúirte Uachtaraí in aghaidh cinneadh ag an gCúirt Achomhairc Choiriúil maidir leis an gcion nó leis an bpionós a gearradh (má gearradh) ina leith nó in aghaidh cinneadh ag an Ard-Chúirt ar chás a shonraigh breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche maidir leis na himeachtaí sa Chúirt Dúiche i ndáil leis an gcion nó maidir le ceist dlí a d'éirigh sna himeachtaí sin, agus
(c) ina ndeonóidh an Chúirt Achomhairc Choiriúil nó an Ard-Chúirt (cibé acu é) nó ina ndeonófar faoi fho-alt (3) den alt seo deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil in aisce (dá ngairtear deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (An Chúirt Uachtarach) san Acht seo) i leith an duine a cúisíodh sa chion lena mbaineann an t-achomharc,
beidh an duine sin i dteideal cúnamh dlíthiúil in aisce a fháil chun a chás i ndáil leis an achomharc a ullmhú agus a stiúradh agus i dteideal aturnae agus abhcóide a shannadh dó chun na críche sin i cibé slí a bheidh ordaithe le rialacháin faoi alt 10 den Acht seo.
(2) Deonófar deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (An Chúirt Uachtarach) más rud é (ach ar an gcuntar sin amháin)—
(a) go ndéanfar iarratas faoina choinne sin,
(b) go bhfeicfear don Chúirt Achomhairc Choiriúil nó don Ard-Chúirt (cibé acu é) nach leor acmhainn an duine a cúisíodh sa chion chun go mbeadh ar a chumas cúnamh dlíthiúil a fháil, agus
(c) i gcás achomhairc in aghaidh cinneadh ag an Ard-Chúirt ar chás a shonraigh breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche, go bhfeicfear don Ard-Chúirt, mar gheall ar thromaíocht an chiona inar cúisíodh an duine sin nó ar imthosca eisceachtúla gur gá, ar mhaithe leis an gceartas, deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (An Chúirt Uachtarach) a dheonú i leith an duine sin.
(3) I gcás ina ndiúltófar deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (An Chúirt Uachtarach) do dhuine, féadfaidh sé an deimhniú a iarraidh ar an gCúirt Uachtarach—
(a) trí litir a sheoladh chuig cláraitheoir na Cúirte Uachtaraí ag tabhairt fíorais an cháis agus forais an iarratais, nó
(b) trí iarratas chun na Cúirte Uachtaraí féin,
agus deonóidh an Chúirt an deimhniú más rud é (ach ar an gcuntar sin amháin)—
(i) go bhfeicfear don Chúirt nach leor acmhainn an duine sin chun go mbeadh ar a chumas cúnamh dlíthiúil a fháil, agus
(ii) i gcás achomhairc in aghaidh cinneadh ag an Ard-Chúirt ar chás a shonraigh breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche, go bhfeicfear don Chúirt Uachtarach, mar gheall ar thromaíocht an chiona inar cúisíodh an duine nó ar imthosca eisceachtúla gur gá, ar mhaithe leis an gceartas, deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (An Chúirt Uachtarach) a dheonú i leith an duine sin.
Caiteachas a bhaineann le cúnamh dlíthiúil a íoc as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas.
7.—(1) I gcás ina ndeonófar deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (An Chúirt Dúiche) nó deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (triail ar dhíotáil) i leith duine, déanfar, faoi réir na rialachán faoi alt 10 den Acht seo, aon táillí, costais nó caiteachais eile faoina rachfar go cuí ag ullmhú agus ag stiúradh na cosanta lena mbaineann an deimhniú a íoc as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas.
(2) I gcás ina ndeonófar deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (achomharc) nó deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (cás sonraithe) nó deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (An Chúirt Uachtarach) i leith duine, déanfar, faoi réir na rialachán faoi alt 10 den Acht seo, aon táillí, costais nó caiteachais eile faoina rachfar go cuí ag ullmhú agus ag stiúradh chás an duine sin maidir leis an achomharc nó leis an gcás sonraithe (cibé acu é) lena mbaineann an deimhniú a íoc as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas.
Alt 34 den Acht Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1924, agus alt 5 den Acht Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1928, a shrianadh.
8.—(1) I gcás ina ndeonófar deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (triail ar dhíotáil) i leith duine, ní bheidh dlínse ag an gCúirt Achomhairc Choiriúil faoi alt 34 den Acht Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1924, ná faoi alt 5 den Acht Cúirteanna Breithiúnais, 1928, chun costais a dhámhachtain don duine sin i leith imeachtaí cúirte lena mbaineann an deimhniú.
(2) I gcás ina ndeonófar deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (achomharc) i leith duine, ní bheidh dlínse ag an gCúirt Achomhairc Choiriúil faoin alt sin 34 ná faoin alt sin 5 chun costais a dhámhachtain don duine sin i leith imeachtaí cúirte lena mbaineann an deimhniú.
Ráiteas maidir le hacmhainn.
9.—(1) Sula ndeonófar deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil do dhuine, féadfaidh an chúirt nó an breitheamh, de réir mar a bheidh, a bheidh ag deonú an deimhnithe a cheangal ar an duine sin ráiteas scríofa a thabhairt i cibé foirm a bheidh ordaithe ag an Aire le rialacháin faoi alt 10 den Acht seo maidir le hábhair is iomchuí chun a chinneadh cé acu is leor nó nach leor a acmhainn chun go mbeadh ar a chumas cúnamh dlíthiúil a fháil.
(2) San alt seo agus sa chéad alt eile ina dhiaidh seo ciallaíonn “deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil” deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (An Chúirt Dúiche), deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (triail ar dhíotáil), deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (achomharc), deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (cás sonraithe) nó deimhniú um chúnamh dlíthiúil (An Chúirt Uachtarach).
Rialacháin.
10.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh chun éifeacht a thabhairt don Acht seo agus féadfar, go sonrach, na nithe seo a leanas a ordú sna rialacháin sin—
(a) foirm na ndeimhnithe um chúnamh dlíthiúil,
(b) na rátaí nó na scálaí íocaíochta d'aon táillí, costais nó caiteachais eile is iníoctha as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas de bhun na ndeimhnithe sin,
(c) an tslí ina sannfar aturnaetha agus abhcóidí de bhun na ndeimhnithe sin.
(2) Ní dhéanfar rialacháin faoin alt seo maidir leis na hábhair a shonraítear i mír (b) d'fho-alt (1) den alt seo gan toiliú an Aire Airgeadais.
(3) Gach rialachán a dhéanfaidh an tAire faoin alt seo leagfar é faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir é tar éis a dhéanta agus má dhéanann ceachtar Teach acu sin, laistigh den lá is fiche a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an rialachán a leagan faoina bhráid, rún a rith ag neamhniú an rialacháin, beidh an rialachán ar neamhní dá réir sin ach sin gan dochar d'aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin rialachán.
Pionós mar gheall ar ráitis atá bréagach nó míthreorach.
11.—(1) Aon duine a dhéanfaidh go feasach, chun cúnamh dlíthiúil in aisce a fháil faoin Acht seo, cibé acu dó féin nó do dhuine éigin eile é, ráiteas bréagach nó uiríoll bréagach ó bhéal nó i scríbhinn nó aon fhíoras ábhartha a cheilt, beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus ar a chiontú ann go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná céad punt a chur air nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná sé mhí nó an fhíneáil agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile.
(2) Ar dhuine a chiontú i gcion faoin alt seo, féadfaidh an chúirt a chiontóidh an duine, más oiriúnach leis an gcúirt é in imthosca an cháis, a ordú don duine an t-iomlán nó cuid (de réir mar is cuí leis an gCúirt) a íoc leis an Aire d'aon suim a íocadh faoi alt 7 den Acht seo maidir leis an gcúnamh dlíthiúil in aisce a ndearnadh an cion ina leith, agus aon suim a íocfar leis an Aire de bhun an ailt seo íocfar isteach sa Státchiste í nó cuirfear chun tairbhe don Státchiste í de réir treoracha an Aire Airgeadais.
Tosach feidhme.
12.—Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh cibé lá a cheapfaidh an tAire le hordú.
Caiteachas.
13.—Déanfar an caiteachas faoina rachaidh an tAire ag riaradh an Achta seo a íoc, a mhéid a cheadóidh an tAire Airgeadais é, as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas.
Gearrtheideal.
14.—Féadfar an tAcht um Cheartas Coiriúil (Cúnamh Dlíthiúil), 1962, a ghairm den Acht seo.
Number 12 of 1962.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE (LEGAL AID) ACT, 1962.
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section | |
Payment of expenses of legal aid out of moneys provided by Oireachtas. | |
Acts Referred to | |
1924, No. 10 | |
1928, No. 15 | |
Number 12 of 1962.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE (LEGAL AID) ACT, 1962.
Definitions.
1.—In this Act, except where the context otherwise requires—
“justice” means justice of the District Court and includes the President of the District Court;
“the Minister” means the Minister for Justice.
Legal aid (District Court) certificate.
2.—(1) If it appears to the District Court—
(a) that the means of a person charged before it with an offence are insufficient to enable him to obtain legal aid, and
(b) that by reason of the gravity of the charge or of exceptional circumstances it is essential in the interests of justice that he should have legal aid in the preparation and conduct of his defence before it,
the Court shall, on application being made to it in that behalf, grant in respect of him a certificate for free legal aid (in this Act referred to as a legal aid (District Court) certificate) and thereupon he shall be entitled to such aid and to have a solicitor and (where he is charged with murder and the Court thinks fit) counsel assigned to him for that purpose in such manner as may be prescribed by regulations under section 10 of this Act.
(2) A decision of the District Court in relation to an application under this section shall be final and shall not be appealable.
Legal aid (trial on indictment) certificate.
3.—(1) Where—
(a) a person is returned for trial for an indictable offence, and
(b) a certificate for free legal aid (in this Act referred to as a legal aid (trial on indictment) certificate) is granted in respect of him by the District Court, upon his being returned for trial, or by the judge of the court before which he is to be or is being tried,
the person shall be entitled to free legal aid in the preparation and conduct of his defence at the trial and to have a solicitor and counsel assigned to him for that purpose in such manner as may be prescribed by regulations under section 10 of this Act.
(2) A legal aid (trial on indictment) certificate shall be granted in respect of a person returned for trial for an indictable offence if (but only if)—
(a) application is made therefor,
(b) it appears to the District Court or the judge of the court before which the person is to be or is being tried that the means of the person are insufficient to enable him to obtain legal aid, and
(c) either—
(i) the return for trial is upon a charge of murder, or
(ii) it appears to the District Court or the judge of the court before which the person is to be or is being tried (as the case may be) that, having regard to all the circumstances of the case (including the nature of such defence (if any) as may have been set up), it is essential in the interests of justice that the person should have legal aid in the preparation and conduct of his defence at the trial.
Legal aid (appeal) certificate.
4.—(1) Where—
(a) a person is convicted of an offence, and
(b) a certificate for free legal aid (in this Act referred to as a legal aid (appeal) certificate) is granted in respect of him by the District Court or by the judge of the court before which he was tried or under subsection (3) of this section,
the person shall be entitled to free legal aid in the preparation and conduct of an appeal from the conviction or the penalty (if any) imposed on conviction and to have a solicitor and (where the appeal lies to the Court of Criminal Appeal) counsel assigned to him for that purpose in such manner as may be prescribed by regulations under section 10 of this Act.
(2) A legal aid (appeal) certificate shall be granted in respect of a person convicted of an offence if (but only if)—
(a) application is made therefor,
(b) it appears to the District Court or the judge of the court before which the person was tried that his means are insufficient to enable him to obtain legal aid, and
(c) either—
(i) the conviction is of murder, or
(ii) it appears to the District Court or the judge of the court before which the person was tried that, by reason of the serious nature of the offence or of exceptional circumstances, it is essential in the interests of justice that the person should have legal aid in the preparation and conduct of an appeal.
(3) Where a person is, on being convicted of an offence, refused a legal aid (appeal) certificate, he may apply for the certificate to the court to which an appeal from the conviction lies either—
(a) by letter addressed to the registrar of that court setting out the facts of the case and the grounds of the application, or
(b) to the court itself,
and the court shall grant the certificate if (but only if)—
(i) it appears to the court that the means of the person are insufficient to enable him to obtain legal aid, and
(ii) either—
(I) the conviction is of murder, or
(II) it appears to the court that, by reason of the serious nature of the offence or of exceptional circumstances, it is essential in the interests of justice that the convicted person should have legal aid in the preparation and conduct of an appeal.
Legal aid (case stated) certificate.
5.—(1) Where—
(a) a person is charged with an offence before the District Court or the Circuit Court or appeals to the Circuit Court against a conviction of an offence by the District Court and the justice or judge (as the case may be) of the court before which the charge or appeal (as the case may be) is heard refers a question of law arising in the proceedings to the High Court or Supreme Court (as the case may be) by way of case stated or the justice states a case in relation to the proceedings for the opinion of the High Court, and
(b) a certificate for free legal aid (in this Act referred to as a legal aid (case stated) certificate) is granted in respect of the person by the court before which the charge or appeal (as the case may be) is heard or under subsection (3) of this section,
the person shall be entitled to free legal aid in the preparation and conduct of his case in relation to the case stated and to have a solicitor and counsel assigned to him for that purpose in such manner as may be prescribed by regulations under section 10 of this Act.
(2) Where a person is charged with an offence before the District Court or the Circuit Court or appeals to the Circuit Court against a conviction of an offence by the District Court and the justice or judge (as the case may be) of the court before which the charge or appeal (as the case may be) is heard refers a question of law arising in the proceedings to the High Court or Supreme Court (as the case may be) by way of case stated or the justice states a case in relation to the proceedings for the opinion of the High Court, a legal aid (case stated) certificate shall be granted in respect of the person if (but only if)—
(a) application is made therefor,
(b) it appears to the court before which the charge or appeal (as the case may be) is heard that the means of the person are insufficient to enable him to obtain legal aid, and
(c) it appears to the court before which the charge or appeal (as the case may be) is heard that, by reason of the serious nature of the offence with which the person is charged or of exceptional circumstances, it is essential in the interests of justice that a legal aid (case stated) certificate should be granted in respect of the person.
(3) Where, in relation to a case stated, a person is refused a legal aid (case stated) certificate by the District Court or Circuit Court, he may apply for the certificate to the court in which the case stated is to be heard either—
(a) by letter addressed to the registrar of that court setting out the facts of the case and the grounds of the application, or
(b) to the court itself,
and the court shall grant the certificate if (but only if)—
(i) it appears to the court that the means of the person are insufficient to enable him to obtain legal aid, and
(ii) it appears to the court that, by reason of the serious nature of the offence with which the person is charged or of exceptional circumstances, it is essential in the interests of justice that a legal aid (case stated) certificate should be granted in respect of the person.
Legal aid (Supreme Court) certificate.
6.—(1) Where—
(a) a person is charged with an offence,
(b) an appeal is brought to the Supreme Court from a determination of the Court of Criminal Appeal in relation to the offence or the penalty (if any) imposed in respect thereof or from a determination of the High Court on a case stated by a justice in relation to the proceedings in the District Court in regard to the offence or in relation to a question of law arising in those proceedings, and
(c) a certificate for free legal aid (in this Act referred to as a legal aid (Supreme Court) certificate) is granted in respect of the person charged with the offence to which the appeal relates by the Court of Criminal Appeal or the High Court (as the case may be) or under subsection (3) of this section,
the person shall be entitled to free legal aid in the preparation and conduct of his case in relation to the appeal and to have a solicitor and counsel assigned to him for that purpose in such manner as may be prescribed by regulations under section 10 of this Act.
(2) A legal aid (Supreme Court) certificate shall be granted if (but only if)—
(a) application is made therefor,
(b) it appears to the Court of Criminal Appeal or the High Court (as the case may be) that the means of the person charged with the offence are insufficient to enable him to obtain legal aid, and
(c) in the case of an appeal from a determination of the High Court on a case stated by a justice, it appears to the High Court that, by reason of the serious nature of the offence with which the person is charged or of exceptional circumstances, it is essential in the interests of justice that a legal aid (Supreme Court) certificate should be granted in respect of the person.
(3) Where a person is refused a legal aid (Supreme Court) certificate, he may apply for the certificate to the Supreme Court either—
(a) by letter addressed to the registrar of the Supreme Court setting out the facts of the case and the grounds of the application, or
(b) to the Supreme Court itself,
and the Court shall grant the certificate if (but only if)—
(i) it appears to the Court that the means of the person are insufficient to enable him to obtain legal aid, and
(ii) in the case of an appeal from a determination of the High Court on a case stated by a justice, it appears to the Supreme Court that, by reason of the serious nature of the offence with which the person is charged or of exceptional circumstances, it is essential in the interests of justice that a legal aid (Supreme Court) certificate should be granted in respect of the person.
Payment of expenses of legal aid out of moneys provided by Oireachtas.
7.—(1) Where a legal aid (District Court) certificate or a legal aid (trial on indictment) certificate has been granted in respect of a person, any fees, costs or other expenses properly incurred in preparing and conducting the defence to which the certificate relates shall, subject to the regulations under section 10 of this Act, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
(2) Where a legal aid (appeal) certificate, a legal aid (case stated) certificate or a legal aid (Supreme Court) certificate has been granted in respect of a person, any fees, costs or other expenses properly incurred in preparing and conducting the person's case in relation to the appeal or case stated (as the case may be) to which the certificate relates shall, subject to the regulations under section 10 of this Act, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
Restriction of section 34 of Courts of Justice Act, 1924, and section 5 of Courts of Justice Act, 1928..
8.—(1) Where a legal aid (trial on indictment) certificate is granted in respect of a person, the Court of Criminal Appeal shall not have jurisdiction under section 34 of the Courts of Justice Act, 1924, or section 5 of the Courts of Justice Act, 1928, to award costs to the person in respect of court proceedings in relation to which the certificate applies.
(2) Where a legal aid (appeal) certificate is granted in respect of a person, the Court of Criminal Appeal shall not have jurisdiction under the said section 34 or the said section 5 to award costs to the person in respect of court proceedings in relation to which the certificate applies.
Statement as to means.
9.—(1) Before a person is granted a legal aid certificate he may be required by the court or judge, as the case may be, granting the certificate to furnish a written statement in such form as may be prescribed by the Minister by regulations under section 10 of this Act about matters relevant for determining whether his means are insufficient to enable him to obtain legal aid.
(2) In this and in the next following section “legal aid certificate” means a legal aid (District Court) certificate, a legal aid (trial on indictment) certificate, a legal aid (appeal) certificate, a legal aid (case stated) certificate or a legal aid (Supreme Court) certificate.
Regulations.
10.—(1) The Minister may make regulations for carrying this Act into effect and the regulations may, in particular, prescribe—
(a) the form of legal aid certificates,
(b) the rates or scales of payment of any fees, costs or other expenses payable out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas pursuant to such certificates,
(c) the manner in which solicitors and counsel are to be assigned pursuant to such certificates.
(2) Regulations under this section in relation to the matters specified in paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section shall not be made without the consent of the Minister for Finance.
(3) Every regulation made by the Minister under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the regulation is passed by either such House within the next subsequent twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the regulation is laid before it, the regulation shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to anything previously done thereunder.
Penalty for false or misleading statements.
11.—(1) A person who, for the purpose of obtaining free legal aid under this Act, whether for himself or some other person, knowingly makes a false statement or false representation either verbally or in writing or knowingly conceals any material fact shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both the fine and the imprisonment.
(2) Upon conviction of a person of an offence under this section, the court by which the person is convicted may, if in the circumstances of the case the court so thinks fit, order the person to pay to the Minister the whole or part (as the court considers appropriate) of any sum paid under section 7 of this Act in respect of the free legal aid in relation to which the offence was committed, and any sum paid to the Minister pursuant to this section shall be paid into or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer in accordance with the directions of the Minister for Finance.
Commencement.
12.—This Act shall come into operation on such day as the Minister may appoint by order.
Expenses.
13.—The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be defrayed out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
Short Title.
14.—This Act may be cited as the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act, 1962.