Uimhir 27 de 1986

AN tACHT DÍOBHÁLACHA MAILÍSEACHA (LEASÚ), 1986

RIAR NA nALT

Uimhir 27 de 1986

AN tACHT DÍOBHÁLACHA MAILÍSEACHA (LEASÚ), 1986

[An tiontú oifigiúil]

Léiriú.

1.—(1) San Acht seo—

ciallaíonn “na hAchtanna” na hAchtanna Díobhálacha Mailíseacha, 1981 agus 1986;

ciallaíonn “an Príomh-Acht” an tAcht Díobhálacha Mailíseacha, 1981;

tá le “eagraíocht neamhdhleathach” an bhrí a shanntar do “cóghléasadh nea-dhleathach” san Acht um Chiontaí in Aghaidh an Stáit, 1939.

(2) (a) Tagairt sna hAchtanna d'alt is tagairt í d'alt den Acht ina bhfuil an tagairt mura léir gur tagairt d'achtachán éigin eile atá beartaithe.

(b) Tagairt sna hAchtanna d'fho-alt, do mhír nó d'fhomhír is tagairt í d'fho-alt, do mhír nó d'fhomhír na forála ina bhfuil an tagairt mura léir gur tagairt d'fhoráil éigin eile atá beartaithe.

Leasú ar alt 5 den Phríomh-Acht.

2.—Déantar leis seo alt 5 den Phríomh-Acht a leasú, maidir le damáiste a dhéanfar do mhaoin tar éis dháta rite an Achta seo, trí na fo-ailt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-ailt (1) agus (2):

“(1) (a) Faoi réir fhorálacha an ailt seo, i gcás damáiste ar mó a mhéid iomlán ná £100 a bheith déanta d'aon mhaoin—

(i) go neamhdhleathach ag duine amháin nó níos mó de líon (is mó ná beirt) daoine a bheidh bailithe le chéile go círéibeach, nó

(ii) de thoradh gnímh a rinne duine go mailíseach agus é ag gníomhú thar ceann eagraíochta neamhdhleathaí nó i ndáil léi, nó

(iii) de thoradh gnímh a rinne duine go mailíseach agus é ag gníomhú thar ceann eagraíochta lasmuigh den Stát nó i ndáil le heagraíocht lasmuigh den Stát is eagraíocht a bhíonn ag gabháil d'fhoréigean chun críocha a bhaineann le stiúradh nó riaradh ghnóthaí an Stáit nó Thuaisceart Éireann, a chuireann foréigean chun cinn chun na gcríoch sin nó a spreagann foréigean nó a thaobhaíonn leis chun na gcríoch sin,

beidh an duine a d'fhulaing an damáiste i dteideal cúiteamh a fháil ón údarás áitiúil de réir na nAchtanna Díobhálacha Mailíseacha, 1981 agus 1986.

(b) Ní bheidh feidhm ag mír (a) maidir le damáiste a dhéanfar do long nó d'aerárthach ná d'aon ní a bheidh ar iompar i long nó in aerárthach (lena n-áirítear aon ní a bheidh ar iompar ag aon duine orthu), más rud é gurb é ba chúis leis an damáiste—

(i) aon substaint nó feiste a cuireadh ar an long nó ar an aerárthach nó sa long nó san aerárthach nó ar aon ní nó in aon ní a bhí ar iompar orthu nuair a bhí an long, an t-aerárthach nó an ní lasmuigh den Stát nó aon ghníomh eile a rinneadh nó a fágadh gan déanamh lasmuigh den Stát, nó

(ii) duine nó daoine a tháinig isteach sa Stát sa long nó san aerárthach ar an turas nó eitilt deireanach a rinne an long nó an t-aerárthach sular tharla an damáiste.

(2) Chun críche fho-alt (1) (a), ní mheasfar gur go mailíseach a rinneadh gníomh ach amháin más rud é—

(a) gur gníomh éagórach é a rinneadh d'aon ghnó gan cúis ná leithscéal cóir, nó

(b) gur go hainrianta a rinneadh é, nó

(c) go ndearnadh é le linn cion a dhéanamh in aghaidh na maoine a damáistíodh cibé acu ar chun an cion sin a dhéanamh nó nárbh ea a rinneadh é.”.

Cruthúnas i ndáil le gníomhartha mailíseacha eagraíochtaí áirithe.

3.—(1) Más rud é, maidir le damáiste a dhéanfar do mhaoin tar éis dháta rite an Achta seo, gurb é tuairim an phríomhcheannfoirt chuí gur duine a bhí ag gníomhú thar ceann eagraíochta dá dtagraítear in alt 5 (1) (a) (a cuireadh isteach leis an Acht seo) den Phríomh-Acht nó a bhí ag gníomhú i ndáil léi a rinne an gníomh go mailíseach ar dá thoradh a tharla an damáiste, tabharfaidh sé deimhniú arna shíniú aige á rá sin d'aon duine a iarrann air déanamh amhlaidh chun críche iarratas a dhéanamh chun na cúirte ar chúiteamh faoi na hAchtanna i leith an damáiste, agus beidh an deimhniú inghlactha in aon chúirt mar fhianaise gur duine a bhí ag gníomhú mar a dúradh a rinne an gníomh go mailíseach.

(2) Ní cheanglófar ar an bpríomhcheannfort cuí an fhaisnéis (ná a foinse) ar bunaíodh deimhniú faoi fho-alt (1) uirthi a nochtadh in aon imeachtaí.

(3) Doiciméad a airbheartóidh gur deimhniú é faoin alt seo agus a bheith sínithe ag an bpríomhcheannfort cuí, measfar, mura suífear a mhalairt, gur deimhniú den sórt sin é agus gur síníodh amhlaidh é.

(4) San alt seo, ciallaíonn “príomhcheannfort cuí”, i ndáil le deimhniú faoin alt seo, an príomhcheannfort den Gharda Síochána arbh é, an tráth a síníodh an deimhniú, an t-oifigeach rannáin é den rannán Garda Síochána ina bhfuil suite an Stáisiún Garda Síochána cuí chun críche réamhfhógra a sheirbheáil faoi alt 8 den Phríomh-Acht i ndáil leis an damáiste iomchuí.

Leasú ar alt 6 den Phríomh-Acht.

4.—Déantar leis seo alt 6 den Phríomh-Acht a leasú, maidir le damáiste a dhéanfar do mhaoin tar éis dháta rite an Achta seo, tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-ailt (1) agus (2):

“(1) I gcás duine amháin nó níos mó de líon (is mó ná beirt) daoine a bheidh bailithe le chéile go racánach agus go círéibeach do dhéanamh damáiste go neamhdhleathach d'fhoirgneamh nó do mhaoin laistigh de chúirtealáiste foirgnimh agus go ndéanfar, le linn na círéibe, maoin ar mó a méid iomlán ná £100 a thógáil go neamhdhleathach as an bhfoirgneamh, agus gurbh fhusaide an mhaoin sin a thógáil, nó dul isteach san fhoirgneamh chun an mhaoin sin a thógáil, an damáiste sin a bheith déanta, beidh an duine a chaill an mhaoin a tógadh i dteideal cúiteamh a fháil ón údarás áitiúil de réir na nAchtanna Díobhálacha Mailíseacha, 1981 agus 1986.”

Damáiste ag duine mímheabhrach, ag leanbh nó ag duine ag gníomhú faoi éigeantas.

5.—Déantar leis seo an Príomh-Acht a leasú, maidir le damáiste a dhéanfar tar éis dháta rite an Achta seo, tríd an alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad alt 7:

“7. Ní cosaint é i gcoinne iarratas ar chúiteamh faoi na hAchtanna Díobhálacha Mailíseacha, 1981 agus 1986, mura ndéanfar ach a shuíomh gur duine mímheabhrach, leanbh nó duine a bhí ag gníomhú faoi éigeantas a rinne an damáiste lena mbaineann an t-iarratas.”.

Costas cúitimh faoi na hAchtanna a aisíoc le húdaráis áitiúla.

6.—Déanfaidh an tAire Comhshaoil an costas a bhí ar údarás áitiúil as cúiteamh a íocadh faoi na hAchtanna i ndamáiste a rinneadh nó i gcaillteanas a trúigeadh tar éis dháta rite an Achta seo agus aon chostais dhlíthiúla a thabhaigh an t-údarás i leith an chúitimh, a aisíoc leis an údarás áitiúil as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas.

Airgead a íocadh le húdaráis áitiúla faoin bPríomh-Acht, nó ranníocaí a ghnóthaigh siad faoin Acht sin, a dhiúscairt.

7.—Aon airgead a íocadh faoi alt 19 den Phríomh-Acht le húdarás áitiúil i leith cúitimh a d'íoc an t-údarás áitiúil nó ab iníoctha aige faoi na hAchtanna i ndamáiste a rinneadh nó i gcaillteanas a trúigeadh tar éis dháta rite an Achta seo nó aon ranníoc a ghnóthaigh údarás áitiúil faoi alt 21 den Phríomh-Acht i leith cúitimh den sórt sin, íocfar isteach sa Státchiste é nó cuirfear chun tairbhe don Státchiste é de réir orduithe an Aire Comhshaoil arna dtabhairt tar éis dó dul i gcomhairle leis an Aire Airgeadais.

Maoin a ghnóthú tar éis cúiteamh a íoc.

8.—Más rud é, maidir le maoin a tógadh go neamhdhleathach tar éis dháta rite an Achta seo agus ar íocadh cúiteamh ina leith faoi na hAchtanna, go ngnóthófar an mhaoin sin, tiocfaidh an tAire Comhshaoil chun bheith agus beidh sé ina úinéir ar an maoin agus féadfaidh sé, tar éis dó dul i gcomhairle leis an Aire Airgeadais, í a dhiúscairt i cibé slí is cuí leis.

Aisghairm.

9.—(1) Déantar leis seo alt 20 den Phríomh-Acht a aisghairm maidir le cúiteamh a íocfar faoi na hAchtanna i ndamáiste a dhéanfar nó i gcaillteanas a thrúigfear tar éis dháta rite an Achta seo.

(2) Déantar leis seo alt 22 den Phríomh-Acht a aisghairm maidir le maoin a thógfar go neamhdhleathach tar éis dháta rite an Achta seo.

Gearrtheideal, comhlua agus forléiriú.

10.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht Díobhálacha Mailíseacha (Leasú), 1986, a ghairm den Acht seo.

(2) Féadfar na hAchtanna Díobhálacha Mailíseacha, 1981 agus 1986, a ghairm den Phríomh-Acht agus den Acht seo le chéile agus forléireofar le chéile iad mar aon ní amháin.

Number 27 of 1986

MALICIOUS INJURIES (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1986

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Number 27 of 1986

MALICIOUS INJURIES (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1986

Interpretation.

1.—(1) In this Act—

“the Acts” means the Malicious Injuries Acts, 1981 and 1986;

“the Principal Act” means the Malicious Injuries Act, 1981;

“unlawful organisation” has the meaning assigned to it by section 18 of the Offences against the State Act, 1939.

(2) (a) A reference in the Acts to a section is a reference to a section of the Act in which the reference occurs unless it is indicated that reference to some other enactment is intended.

(b) A reference in the Acts to a subsection, paragraph or subparagraph is a reference to the subsection, paragraph or subparagraph of the provision in which the reference occurs unless it is indicated that reference to some other provision is intended.

Amendment of section 5 of Principal Act.

2.—Section 5 of the Principal Act is hereby amended, as respects damage caused to property after the passing of this Act, by the substitution of the following subsections for subsections (1) and (2):

“(1) (a) Subject to the provisions of this section, where damage the aggregate amount of which exceeds £100 is caused to any property—

(i) unlawfully by one or more of a number (exceeding two) of persons riotously assembled together, or

(ii) as a result of an act committed maliciously by a person acting on behalf of or in connection with an unlawful organisation, or

(iii) as a result of an act committed maliciously by a person acting on behalf of or in connection with an organisation outside the State that engages in, promotes, encourages or advocates the use of violence for purposes related to the conduct or administration of the affairs of the State or Northern Ireland,

the person who suffers the damage shall be entitled to obtain compensation from the local authority in accordance with the Malicious Injuries Acts, 1981 and 1986.

(b) Paragraph (a) shall not apply to damage caused to a ship or aircraft, or to anything carried thereon (including anything carried by a person thereon), if the damage was caused—

(i) by any substance or device placed on or in the ship or aircraft or on or in anything carried thereon at a time when the ship, aircraft or thing was outside the State or by any other act or omission done or made outside the State, or

(ii) by a person or persons who had entered the State in the ship or aircraft on the last voyage or flight made by the ship or aircraft before the damage occurred.

(2) For the purpose of subsection (1) (a), an act shall be taken to be committed maliciously only if it is—

(a) a wrongful act committed intentionally without just cause or excuse, or

(b) committed wantonly, or

(c) committed in the course of, whether or not for the purpose of, the commission of a crime against the property damaged.”.

Proof in relation to malicious acts of certain organisations.

3.—(1) Where, as respects damage caused to property after the passing of this Act, the appropriate chief superintendent is of opinion that the act from which the damage resulted was committed maliciously by a person acting on behalf of or in connection with an organisation referred to in section 5 (1) (a) (inserted by this Act) of the Principal Act, he shall, if requested so to do by any person for the purpose of making an application to the court for compensation under the Acts in respect of the damage, give a certificate signed by him and so stating to the person and the certificate shall be admissible in any court as evidence that the act was committed maliciously by a person acting as aforesaid.

(2) The appropriate chief superintendent shall not be required to disclose in any proceedings the information (or its source) on which a certificate under subsection (1) is based.

(3) A document purporting to be a certificate under this section and to be signed by the appropriate chief superintendent shall be deemed, unless the contrary is shown, to be such a certificate and to be so signed.

(4) In this section “appropriate chief superintendent”, in relation to a certificate under this section, means the chief superintendent of the Garda Síochána who was, at the time of the signing of the certificate, the divisional officer of the Garda Síochána division in which is situated the appropriate Garda Síochána station for the purpose of the service of a preliminary notice under section 8 of the Principal Act in relation to the relevant damage.

Amendment of section 6 of Principal Act.

4.—Section 6 of the Principal Act is hereby amended, as respects damage caused to property after the passing of this Act, by the substitution of the following subsection for subsections (1) and (2):

“(1) Where damage is caused to a building or property within the curtilage of a building unlawfully by one or more of a number (exceeding two) of persons who are tumultuously and riotously assembled together and, in the course of the riot, property the aggregate value of which exceeds £100 is unlawfully taken from the building, and such taking, or entry to the building for the purpose of such taking, was facilitated by such damage, the person who suffers the loss of the property taken shall be entitled to obtain compensation from the local authority in accordance with the Malicious Injuries Acts, 1981 and 1986.”.

Damage by person of unsound mind, child or person acting under duress.

5.—The Principal Act is hereby amended, as respects damage caused after the passing of this Act, by the substitution of the following section for section 7:

“7. It shall not be a defence to an application for compensation under the Malicious Injuries Acts, 1981 and 1986, merely to show that the damage to which the application relates was caused by a person of unsound mind, by a child or by a person acting under duress.”.

Refund to local authorities of cost of compensation under Acts.

6.—The cost to a local authority of compensation paid under the Acts for damage or loss caused after the passing of this Act and of any legal costs incurred by the authority in respect of the compensation shall be refunded to the local authority by the Minister for the Environment out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.

Disposal of moneys paid to, or contributions recovered by, local authorities under Principal Act.

7.—Any moneys paid under section 19 of the Principal Act to, or any contribution recovered under section 21 of the Principal Act by, a local authority in respect of compensation paid or payable by the local authority under the Acts for damage or loss caused after the passing of this Act shall be paid into or disposed of for the benefit of the Exchequer in accordance with the directions of the Minister for the Environment given after consultation with the Minister for Finance.

Property recovered after payment of compensation.

8.—Where property which is unlawfully taken after the passing of this Act and in respect of which compensation is paid under the Acts is recovered, the Minister for the Environment shall become and be the owner of the property and may, after consultation with the Minister for Finance, dispose of it in such manner as he thinks fit.

Repeals.

9.—(1) Section 20 of the Principal Act is hereby repealed as respects compensation paid under the Acts for damage or loss caused after the passing of this Act.

(2) Section 22 of the Principal Act is hereby repealed as respects property unlawfully taken after the passing of this Act.

Short title, collective citation and construction.

10.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Malicious Injuries (Amendment) Act, 1986.

(2) The Principal Act and this Act may be cited together as the Malicious Injuries Acts, 1981 and 1986, and shall be construed together as one.