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Number 10 of 1981
CRIMINAL LAW (RAPE) ACT, 1981
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section | |
Acts Referred to | |
Children Act, 1908 | 1908, c. 67 |
1941, No. 12 | |
1951, No. 2 | |
1935, No. 6 | |
1967, No. 12 | |
Offences against the Person Act, 1861 | 1861, c. 100 |
Summary Jurisdiction over Children (Ireland) Act, 1884 | 1884, c. 19 |
Number 10 of 1981
CRIMINAL LAW (RAPE) ACT, 1981
Interpretation.
1.—(1) In this Act—
“a rape offence” means any of the following, namely, rape, attempted rape, aiding, abetting, counselling and procuring rape or attempted rape, and incitement to rape;
“complainant” means a woman in relation to whom a rape offence is alleged to have been committed.
(2) In this Act references to sexual intercourse shall be construed as references to carnal knowledge as defined in section 63 of the Offences against the Person Act, 1861, so far as it relates to natural intercourse (under which such intercourse is deemed complete on proof of penetration only).
(3) In this Act “man” and “woman” include respectively a male and a female person of any age; but this does not affect any rule of law by virtue of which a male person is treated by reason of his age as being incapable of committing an offence of any particular kind.
Meaning of “rape”.
2.—(1) A man commits rape if—
(a) he has unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman who at the time of the intercourse does not consent to it, and
(b) at that time he knows that she does not consent to the intercourse or he is reckless as to whether she does or does not consent to it,
and references to rape in this Act and any other enactment shall be construed accordingly.
(2) It is hereby declared that if at a trial for a rape offence the jury has to consider whether a man believed that a woman was consenting to sexual intercourse, the presence or absence of reasonable grounds for such a belief is a matter to which the jury is to have regard, in conjunction with any other relevant matters, in considering whether he so believed.
Restrictions on evidence at trials for rape offences.
3.—(1) If at a trial any person is for the time being charged with a rape offence to which he pleads not guilty, then, except with the leave of the judge, no evidence shall be adduced and no question shall be asked in cross-examination at the trial, by or on behalf of any accused person at the trial, about any sexual experience of a complainant with a person other than that accused.
(2) (a) The judge shall not give leave in pursuance of subsection (1) for any evidence or question except on an application made to him, in the absence of the jury, by or on behalf of an accused person.
(b) The judge shall give leave if, and only if, he is satisfied that it would be unfair to the accused person to refuse to allow the evidence to be adduced or the question to be asked, that is to say, if he is satisfied that, on the assumption that if the evidence or question was not allowed the jury might reasonably be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the accused person is guilty, the effect of allowing the evidence or question might reasonably be that they would not be so satisfied.
(3) If, notwithstanding that the judge has given leave in accordance with this section for any evidence to be adduced or question to be asked in cross-examination, it appears to the judge that any question asked or proposed to be asked (whether in the course of so adducing evidence or of cross-examination) in reliance on the leave which he has given is not or may not be such as may properly be asked in accordance with that leave, he may direct that the question shall not be asked or, if asked, that it shall not be answered except in accordance with his leave given on a fresh application under this section.
(4) Nothing in this section authorises evidence to be adduced or a question to be asked which cannot be adduced or asked apart from this section.
Preliminary examination.
4.—(1) Where a justice of the District Court conducts a preliminary examination of a charge of a rape offence, then, except with the leave of the justice, evidence shall not be adduced and a question shall not be asked at the examination which, if the examination were a trial such as is mentioned in section 3 (1), could not be adduced or asked without leave in pursuance of that section.
(2) On an application for leave the justice shall—
(a) refuse leave unless he is satisfied that leave in respect of the evidence or question would be likely to be given at such a trial, or
(b) give leave if he is so satisfied.
(3) Section 3 (3) shall apply to an application under subsection (2) of this section with the substitution, for references to the judge, of references to the justice.
Trials of juveniles.
5.—Where a person charged with a rape offence is tried for that offence summarily in pursuance of the Summary Jurisdiction over Children (Ireland) Act, 1884, as amended by section 133 (6) of the Children Act, 1908, and section 28 of the Children Act, 1941 (which provides for the summary trial in certain cases of persons under the age of 17 years who are charged with indictable offences)—
(a) sections 2 (2) and 3 (2) (b) shall have effect as if for the references to the jury there were substituted references to the court,
(b) section 3 (2) (a) shall have effect as if the words “in the absence of the jury” were omitted, and
(c) section 3, subsections (3) and (4) of section 7 and subsections (2), (4) and (5) of section 8 shall have effect as if for the references to the judge there were substituted references to the court.
Exclusion of the public.
6.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), notwithstanding section 111 (4) of the Children Act, 1908, section 20 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1951, and section 16 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1967, during the hearing of an application under section 3 (including that section as applied by section 5) or under section 4 (2), the judge, the justice or the court, as the case may be, shall exclude from the court all persons except officers of the court and persons directly concerned in the proceedings.
(2) Subsection (1) is without prejudice to the right of a parent, relative or friend of the complainant or, where the accused is a person under the age of 21 years, the accused to remain in court.
Anonymity of complainants.
7.—(1) Subject to subsection (8) (a), after a person is charged with a rape offence no matter likely to lead members of the public to identify a woman as the complainant in relation to that charge shall be published in a written publication available to the public or be broadcast except as authorised by a direction given in pursuance of this section.
(2) If, at any stage before the commencement of a trial of a person for a rape offence, he or another person against whom the complainant may be expected to give evidence at the trial applies to a judge of the High Court or Circuit Court for a direction in pursuance of this subsection and satisfies the judge—
(a) that the direction is required for the purpose of inducing persons to come forward who are likely to be needed as witnesses at the trial, and
(b) that the conduct of the applicant's defence at the trial is likely to be adversely affected if the direction is not given,
the judge shall direct that subsection (1) shall not, by virtue of the charge alleging the offence aforesaid, apply to such matter relating to the complainant as is specified in the direction.
(3) If at a trial of a person for a rape offence he or another person who is also charged at the trial applies to the judge for a direction in pursuance of this subsection and satisfies the judge—
(a) that the direction is required for the purpose of inducing persons to come forward who are likely to be needed as witnesses at the trial,
(b) that the conduct of the applicant's defence at the trial is likely to be adversely affected if the direction is not given, and
(c) that there was good reason for his not having made an application under subsection (2) before the commencement of the trial,
the judge shall direct that subsection (1) shall not, by virtue of the charge alleging the offence aforesaid, apply to such matter relating to the complainant as is specified in the direction.
(4) If at a trial for a rape offence the judge is satisfied that the effect of subsection (1) is to impose a substantial and unreasonable restriction on the reporting of proceedings at the trial and that it is in the public interest to remove or relax the restriction, he shall direct that that subsection shall not apply to such matter relating to the complainant as is specified in the direction; but a direction shall not be given in pursuance of this subsection by reason only of an acquittal of an accused person at the trial.
(5) If a person who has been convicted of an offence and given notice of appeal against the conviction, or, on conviction on indictment, notice of an application for leave so to appeal, applies to the appellate court for a direction in pursuance of this subsection and satisfies the court—
(a) that the direction is required for the purpose of obtaining evidence in support of the appeal, and
(b) that the applicant is likely to suffer injustice if the direction is not given,
the court shall direct that subsection (1) shall not apply to such matter relating to a specified complainant and rape offence as is specified in the direction.
(6) If any matter is published or broadcast in contravention of subsection (1), the following persons, namely—
(a) in the case of a publication in a newspaper or periodical, any proprietor, any editor and any publisher of the newspaper or periodical,
(b) in the case of any other publication, the person who publishes it, and
(c) in the case of a broadcast, any body corporate which transmits or provides the programme in which the broadcast is made and any person having functions in relation to the programme corresponding to those of an editor of a newspaper,
shall be guilty of an offence.
(7) In this section—
“a broadcast” means a broadcast by wireless telegraphy of sound or visual images intended for general reception, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;
“written publication” includes a film, a sound track and any other record in permanent form but does not include an indictment or other document prepared for use in particular legal proceedings.
(8) Nothing in this section—
(a) prohibits the publication or broadcasting of matter consisting only of a report of legal proceedings other than proceedings at, or intended to lead to, or on an appeal arising out of, a trial at which the accused is charged with a rape offence, or
(b) affects any prohibition or restriction imposed by virtue of any other enactment upon a publication or broadcast.
(9) A direction in pursuance of this section does not affect the operation of subsection (1) at any time before the direction is given.
(10) If, after the commencement of a trial of a person for a rape offence, a new trial of the person for that offence is ordered, the commencement of any previous trial of that person for that offence shall be disregarded for the purposes of subsections (2) and (3).
Anonymity of accused.
8.—(1) After a person is charged with a rape offence no matter likely to lead members of the public to identify him as the person against whom the charge is made shall be published in a written publication available to the public or be broadcast except—
(a) as authorised by a direction given in pursuance of this section or by virtue of section 7 (8) (a) as applied by subsection (6) of this section, or
(b) after he has been convicted of the offence.
(2) If a person charged with a rape offence applies to a justice of the District Court before the commencement of his trial for that offence for a direction in pursuance of this subsection, the justice shall direct that subsection (1) shall not apply to him in relation to the charge; and if at a trial at which that person is charged with a rape offence in respect of which he has not obtained such a direction that person applies to the judge for a direction in pursuance of this subsection, the judge shall direct that subsection (1) shall not apply to that person in relation to the charge.
(3) If, at any stage before the commencement of a trial of a person for a rape offence, another person who is to be charged with a rape offence at the trial applies to a judge of the High Court or Circuit Court for a direction in pursuance of this subsection and satisfies the judge—
(a) that the direction is required for the purpose of inducing persons to come forward who are likely to be needed as witnesses at the trial, and
(b) that the conduct of the applicant's defence at the trial is likely to be adversely affected if the direction is not given,
the judge shall direct that subsection (1) shall not, by virtue of the charge alleging the offence aforesaid, apply to such matter relating to the first-mentioned person as is specified in the direction.
(4) If at a trial of a person for a rape offence another person who is also charged at the trial applies to the judge for a direction in pursuance of this subsection and satisfies the judge—
(a) that the direction is required for the purpose of inducing persons to come forward who are likely to be needed as witnesses at the trial,
(b) that the conduct of the applicant's defence is likely to be adversely affected if the direction is not given, and
(c) that there was good reason for his not having made an application under subsection (3) before the commencement of the trial,
the judge shall direct that subsection (1) shall not, by virtue of the charge alleging the offence aforesaid, apply to such matter relating to the first-mentioned person as is specified in the direction.
(5) If at a trial at which a person is charged with a rape offence the judge is satisfied that the effect of subsection (1) is to impose a substantial and unreasonable restriction on the reporting of proceedings at the trial and that it is in the public interest to remove or relax the restriction in respect of that person, the judge shall direct that subsection (1) shall not, by virtue of the charge alleging the offence aforesaid, apply to such matter relating to that person as is specified in the direction.
(6) Subsections (6) to (9) of section 7 shall have effect for the purposes of this section as if for references to that section there were substituted references to this section.
(7) If, after the commencement of a trial of a person for a rape offence, a new trial of the person for that offence is ordered, the commencement of any previous trial of that person for that offence shall be disregarded for the purposes of subsections (2), (3) and (4).
Trials by court-martial.
9.—(1) This Act applies to the trial of a rape offence by court-martial with the necessary modifications.
(2) In particular—
(a) for the references to a judge in section 7 (2) or section 8 (3) and for the references to a justice of the District Court in section 8 (2) there shall be substituted references to the convening authority, and
(b) for references in section 3 and for other references in section 7 or 8 to a judge there shall be substituted references to the court-martial.
Punishment of indecent assault on female.
10.—(1) If a person is convicted on indictment of any indecent assault upon a female he shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.
(2) Section 6 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1935, is hereby repealed.
Penalty for publication of unauthorised matter.
11.—(1) A person guilty of an offence under section 7 (6) (including an offence under that section as applied by section 8 (6)) shall be liable on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding £10,000 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(2) (a) Where an offence to which subsection (1) relates and which has been committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate or any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, he as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of that offence and be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
(b) Where the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, paragraph (a) shall apply in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with his functions of management as if he were a director of the body corporate.
(3) Where a person is charged with an offence to which subsection (1) relates it shall be a defence to prove that at the time of the alleged offence he was not aware, and neither suspected nor had reason to suspect, that the publication or broadcast in question was of such matter as is mentioned in section 7 (1) or section 8 (1), as the case may be.
Summary jurisdiction.
12.—(1) A justice of the District Court shall have jurisdiction to try summarily an offence to which section 10 or 11 relates if—
(i) the justice is of opinion that the facts proved or alleged against a defendant charged with such an offence constitute a minor offence fit to be tried summarily,
(ii) the Director of Public Prosecutions consents, and
(iii) the defendant (on being informed by the justice of his right to be tried by a jury) does not object to being tried summarily,
and, upon conviction under this subsection, the said defendant shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £500 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(2) Section 13 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1967 (which provides for the procedure where a person pleads guilty in the District Court to an indictable offence) shall apply in relation to an offence mentioned in subsection (1) as if, in lieu of the penalties specified in subsection (3) of the said section 13, there were specified therein the penalties provided for by subsection (1) of this section and the reference in subsection (2) (a) of the said section 13 to the penalties provided for in subsection (3) of that section shall be construed accordingly.
(3) Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1951 (which provides for the indictable offences which may be tried summarily with the consent of the accused) shall not apply to an offence to which section 10 relates.
Short title and commencement.
13.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Criminal Law (Rape) Act, 1981.
(2) This Act shall come into operation one month after the date of its passing.
(3) Section 3 (including that section as applied by sections 5 and 9) and section 4 shall not have effect in relation to a trial or preliminary examination which begins before the commencement of this Act and sections 7 and 8 shall not have effect in relation to a charge alleging a rape offence which is made before such commencement.
(4) Section 10 and, in so far as it relates to an offence under section 10, section 12 shall not have effect in relation to an offence committed before the commencement of this Act.
Uimhir 10 de 1981
AN tACHT UM AN DLÍ COIRIÚIL (BANÉIGEAN), 1981
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
[6 Bealtaine, 1981]
Léiriú.
1.—(1) San Acht seo—
ciallaíonn “cion banéigin” aon chion díobh seo a leanas, eadhon, banéigean, iarracht bhanéigin, duine do chabhrú nó do neartú le banéigean nó le hiarracht bhanéigin, nó do chomhairliú banéigean nó iarracht bhanéigin a dhéanamh agus dá thabhairt sin chun críche, agus duine a ghríosú chun banéigin;
ciallaíonn “gearánach” bean a líomhnaítear go ndearnadh cion banéigin i ndáil léi.
(2) San Acht seo forléireofar tagairtí do lánúnas collaí mar thagairtí d'fhios collaí mar a mhínítear sin in alt 63 den Offences against the Person Act, 1861, sa mhéid go mbaineann sé le lánúnas nádúrtha (faoina meastar gan lánúnas den sórt sin a bheith críochnaithe ach ar threá a chruthú).
(3) San Acht seo folaíonn “fear” agus “bean” faoi seach duine fireann agus duine baineann d'aon aois; ach ní dhéanann sin difear d'aon riail dlí a n-áirítear dá bhua duine fireann a bheith éagumasach mar gheall ar a aois ar chion d'aon chineál áirithe a dhéanamh.
An bhrí atá le “banéigean”.
2.—(1) Déanann fear banéigean—
(a) má dhéanann sé lánúnas collaí neamhdhleathach le bean nach dtoilíonn leis an lánúnas tráth a dhéanta, agus
(b) más eol dó an tráth sin nach dtoilíonn sí leis an lánúnas nó más cuma leis í do thoiliú nó gan toiliú leis,
agus déanfar tagairtí do bhanéigean san Acht seo agus in aon achtachán eile a fhorléiriú dá réir sin.
(2) Dearbhaítear leis seo, más rud é i dtriail i gcion banéigin go mbeidh ar ghiúiré a bhreithniú ar chreid fear go raibh bean ag toiliú le lánúnas collaí, gur ní nach mór don ghiúiré aird a bheith acu air foras réasúnach a bheith nó gan a bheith ann chun sin a chreidiúint, i dteannta aon nithe ábhartha eile, agus iad á bhreithniú ar chreid sé amhlaidh.
Sriantachtaí ar fhianaise i dtrialacha maidir le cionta banéigin.
3.—(1) Más rud é i dtriail go gcúiseofar aon duine de thuras na huaire i gcion banéigin a bpléadálann sé neamhchiontach ann, ansin, ach amháin le cead ón mbreitheamh, ní dhéanfaidh aon duine cúisithe, ná ní dhéanfar thar a cheann, aon fhianaise a thabhairt ar aird ná aon cheist a chur le linn croscheistiú sa triail i dtaobh aon taithíocht chollaí a bhí ag gearánach le duine seachas an cúisí sin.
(2) (a) Ní thabharfaidh an breitheamh cead de bhun fho-alt (1) maidir le haon fhianaise nó ceist ach amháin ar iarratas a dhéanfaidh duine cúisithe nó a dhéanfar thar ceann duine chúisithe chuige agus an giúiré as láthair.
(b) Tabharfaidh an breitheamh cead más deimhin leis, agus ar an gcuntar amháin gur deimhin leis, gurbh éagóir ar an duine cúisithe diúltú cead a thabhairt an fhianaise a thabhairt ar aird nó an cheist a chur, is é sin le rá, más deimhin leis, ar an toimhde dá mba nach gceadófaí an fhianaise nó an cheist go mbeadh an giúiré sásta le réasún thar amhras réasúnach go bhfuil an duine cúisithe ciontach, gur dóigh le réasún gurbh é ab éifeacht don fhianaise nó don cheist a cheadú nach mbeidís sásta amhlaidh.
(3) Más rud é, d'ainneoin cead a bheith tugtha ag an mbreitheamh de réir an ailt seo chun aon fhianaise a thabhairt ar aird nó aon cheist a chur i gcroscheistiú, gur dealraitheach don bhreitheamh maidir le haon cheist a cuireadh nó a bheartaítear a chur (le linn an fhianaise sin a thabhairt ar aird amhlaidh nó an croscheistiú a dhéanamh) agus an cead a thug sé mar thaca leis sin, nach ceist atá inti nó a bheidh inti a fhéadfar a chur go cuí de réir an cheada sin, féadfaidh sé a ordú nach gcuirfear an cheist nó, má chuirtear í, nach bhfreagrófar í ach amháin de réir chead uaidhsean arna thabhairt ar iarratas nua faoin alt seo.
(4) Ní údaraíonn aon ní san alt seo fianaise a thabhairt ar aird ná ceist a chur nach dtig a thabhairt ar aird ná a chur ar leith ón alt seo.
Réamhcheistiú.
4.—(1) I gcás ina ndéanfaidh breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche réamhcheistiú maidir le cúiseamh i gcion banéigin, ansin, gan cead ón mbreitheamh, ní thabharfar fianaise ar aird ná ní chuirfear ceist ag an gceistiú nach bhféadfaí, dá mba thriail den sórt a luaitear in alt 3(1) an ceistiú, a thabhairt ar aird ná a chur gan cead de bhun an ailt sin.
(2) Nuair a dhéanfar iarratas ar chead déanfaidh an breitheamh—
(a) cead a dhiúltú mura deimhin leis gur dóigh go dtabharfaí cead ag triail den sórt sin maidir leis an bhfianaise nó leis an gceist, nó
(b) cead a thabhairt más deimhin leis amhlaidh.
(3) Bainfidh alt 3 (3) le hiarratas faoi fho-alt (2) den alt seo ach tagairtí don bhreitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche a chur in ionad tagairtí don bhreitheamh.
Trialacha aosánach.
5.—I gcás ina ndéanfar duine a bheidh cúisithe i gcion banéigin a thriail go hachomair sa chion sin de bhun an Summary Jurisdiction over Children (Ireland) Act, 1884, arna leasú le halt 133 (6) den Children Act, 1908, agus le halt 28 d'Acht na Leanbhaí, 1941 (a fhorálann go ndéanfar daoine faoi bhun 17 mbliana d'aois a bheidh cúisithe i gcionta indíotáilte a thriail go hachomair i gcásanna áirithe)—
(a) beidh éifeacht le hailt 2 (2) agus 3 (2) (b) ionann is dá gcuirfí tagairtí don chúirt in ionad na dtagairtí don ghiúiré,
(b) beidh éifeacht le halt 3 (2) (a) ionann is dá bhfágfaí amach na focail “agus an giúire as láthair”, agus
(c) beidh éifeacht le halt 3, le fo-ailt (3) agus (4) d'alt 7 agus le fo-ailt (2), (4) agus (5) d'alt 8 ionann is dá gcuirfí tagairtí don chúirt in ionad na dtagairtí don bhreitheamh.
An pobal a eisiamh.
6.—(1) Faoi réir fho-alt (2), d'ainneoin alt 111 (4) den Children Act, 1908, alt 20 den Acht um Cheartas Coiriúil, 1951, agus alt 16 den Acht um Nós Imeachta Coiriúil, 1967, déanfaidh an breitheamh nó an chúirt, de réir mar a bheidh, gach duine ach amháin oifigigh don chúirt agus daoine a bhfuil baint dhíreach acu leis na himeachtaí a eisiamh ón gcúirt nuair a bheidh iarratas faoi alt 3 (lena n-áirítear an t-alt sin arna chur chun feidhme le halt 5) nó faoi alt 4 (2) á éisteacht.
(2) Ní dhéanfaidh fo-alt (1) dochar do cheart tuismitheora, gaoil nó cara don ghearánach nó, i gcás ar duine é an cúisí atá faoi bhun 21 bliain d'aois, an chúisí fanacht sa chúirt.
Ainmneacha gearánach a choimeád ceilte.
7.—(1) Faoi réir fho-alt (8) (a) ní dhéanfar, tar éis duine a chúiseamh i gcion banéigin, aon ábhar ar dóigh dó a chur ar chumas daoine den phobal a aithint gur bean áirithe an gearánach i ndáil leis an gcúiseamh sin a fhoilsiú i bhfoilseachán scríofa atá ar fáil don phobal ná a chraoladh ach amháin mar a údarófar le hordachán arna thabhairt de bhun an ailt seo.
(2) Más rud é, tráth ar bith sula dtosófar ar dhuine a thriail i gcion banéigin, go ndéanfaidh seisean nó duine eile ar dóigh don ghearánach fianaise a thabhairt ina choinne sa triail iarratas chun breitheamh den Ard-Chúirt nó den Chúirt Chuarda ar ordachán de bhun an ailt seo agus go ndeimhneoidh sé don bhreitheamh—
(a) go bhfuil an t-ordachán ag teastáil chun daoine ar dóigh gá a bheith leo mar fhinnéithe sa triail a aslú chun teacht i láthair, agus
(b) gur dóigh, mura dtabharfar an t-ordachán, go ndéanfaidh sé dochar don chaoi a seolfar cosaint an iarratasóra sa triail,
ordóidh an breitheamh nach mbeidh feidhm, de bhua an chúisimh ag líomhain an chiona réamhráite, ag fo-alt (1) maidir le cibé ábhar i dtaobh an ghearánaigh a bheidh sonraithe san ordachán.
(3) Más rud é nuair a bheidh duine á thriail i gcion banéigin go ndéanfaidh seisean nó duine eile atá cúisithe freisin sa triail iarratas chun an bhreithimh ar ordachán de bhun an fho-ailt seo agus go ndeimhneoidh sé don bhreitheamh—
(a) go bhfuil an t-ordachán ag teastáil chun daoine ar dóigh gá a bheith leo mar fhinnéithe sa triail a aslú chun teacht i láthair,
(b) gur dóigh, mura dtabharfar an t-ordachán, go ndéanfaidh sé dochar don chaoi a seolfar cosaint an iarratasóra sa triail, agus
(c) go raibh cúis mhaith nach ndearna sé iarratas faoi fho-alt (2) roimh thosach na trialach,
ordóidh an bhreitheamh nach mbeidh feidhm, de bhua an chúisimh ag líomhain an chiona réamhráite, ag fo-alt (1) maidir le cibé ábhar i dtaobh an ghearánaigh a bheidh sonraithe san ordachán.
(4) Más rud é i dtriail i gcion banéigin gur deimhin leis an mbreitheamh gurb é is éifeacht d'fho-alt (1) sriantacht úimléideach mhíréasúnach a chur le tuairisciú imeachtaí sa triail agus gur le leas an phobail an tsriantacht a dhíchur nó a mhaolú, ordóidh sé nach mbeidh feidhm ag an bhfo-alt sin maidir le cibé ábhar i dtaobh an ghearánaigh a bheidh sonraithe san ordachán; ach ní thabharfar ordachán de bhun an fho-ailt seo de bhíthin amháin gur éigiontaíodh duine cúisithe sa triail.
(5) Má dhéanann duine a ciontaíodh i gcion agus a thug fógra i dtaobh achomharc in aghaidh an chiontaithe, nó, ar é a chiontú ar díotáil, fógra i dtaobh iarratas ar chead chun achomharc a dhéanamh amhlaidh, iarratas chun na cúirte achomhairc ar ordachán de bhun an fho-ailt seo agus go ndeimhneoidh sé don chúirt—
(a) go bhfuil an t-ordachán ag teastáil chun fianaise a fháil mar thaca leis an achomharc, agus
(b) gur dóigh go ndéanfar éagóir ar an iarrastasóir mura dtabharfar an t-ordachán,
ordóidh an chúirt nach mbeidh feidhm ag fo-alt (1) maidir le cibé ábhar i dtaobh gearánach sonraithe agus cion banéigin a bheidh sonraithe san ordachán.
(6) Má dhéantar aon ní a fhoilsiú nó a chraoladh contrártha d'fho-alt (1), beidh na daoine seo a leanas, eadhon—
(a) i gcás foilsiú i nuachtán nó i dtréimhseachán, aon dílseánach, aon eagarthóir agus aon fhoilsitheoir de chuid an nuachtáin nó an tréimhseacháin,
(b) i gcás aon fhoilsiú eile, an duine a fhoilseoidh é, agus
(c) i gcás craoladh, aon chomhlacht corpraithe a thraiseolfaidh nó a sholáthróidh an clár ina ndéanfar an craoladh agus aon duine ag a bhfuil feidhmeanna i ndáil leis an gclár atá ar aon dul leis na feidhmeanna atá ag eagarthóir nuachtáin,
ciontach i gcion.
(7) San alt seo—
ciallaíonn “craoladh” fuaim-íomhánna agus dearc-íomhánna a chraoltar trí raidiótheileagrafaíocht agus atá ceaptha lena nglacadh go ginearálta, agus forléireofar abairtí gaolmhara dá réir sin;
folaíonn “foilseachán scríofa” scannán, fuaimraon agus aon taifead eile i mbuanfhoirm ach ní fholaíonn sé díotáil ná doiciméad eile a ullmhaítear lena úsáid in imeachtaí áirithe dlí.
(8) Ní dhéanann aon ní san alt seo—
(a) toirmeasc a chur le foilsiú nó le craoladh ábhar nach bhfuil ann ach tuarascáil ar imeachtaí dlí seachas imeachtaí i dtriail ina bhfuil an cúisí cúisithe i gcion banéigin, nó imeachtaí a bhfuil sé ceaptha triail den sórt sin a theacht astu, nó achomharc a éiríonn as triail den sórt sin, ná
(b) difear d'aon toirmeasc nó sriantacht a fhorchuirtear de bhua aon achtacháin eile ar fhoilsiú nó ar chraoladh.
(9) Ní dhéanfaidh ordachán de bhun an ailt seo difear d'oibriú fho-alt (1) tráth ar bith sula dtugtar an t-ordachán.
(10) Más rud é, tar éis tosú ar dhuine a thriail i gcion banéigin, go n-ordófar go gcuirfear triail nua ar an duine sin sa chion sin, ní thabharfar aird chun críocha fho-ailt (2) agus (3) ar thosach aon trialach roimhe sin ar an duine sin sa chion sin.
Ainm an chúisí a choimeád ceilte.
8.—(1) Tar éis duine a chúiseamh i gcion banéigin ní dhéanfar aon ábhar ar dóigh dó a chur ar chumas daoine den phobal a aithint gurb eisean an duine a ndearnadh an cúiseamh ina aghaidh a fhoilsiú i bhfoilseachán scríofa a bheidh ar fáil ag an bpobal ná a chraoladh ach amháin—
(a) mar a údarófar le hordachán arna thabhairt de bhun an ailt seo nó de bhua alt 7 (8) (a) arna fheidhmiú le fo-alt (6) den alt seo, nó
(b) tar éis é a bheith ciontaithe sa chion.
(2) Má dhéanann duine a cúisíodh i gcion banéigin iarratas chun breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche, sula dtosófar ar é a thriail sa chion sin, ar ordachán de bhun an fho-ailt seo, ordóidh an breitheamh nach mbeidh feidhm ag fo-alt (1) ina leith maidir leis an gcúiseamh; agus más rud é, i dtriail ina gcúiseofar an duine sin i gcion banéigin nach mbeidh ordachán den sórt sin faighte aige ina leith, go ndéanfaidh an duine sin iarratas chun an bhreithimh ar ordachán de bhun an fho-ailt seo, ordóidh an breitheamh nach mbeidh feidhm ag fo-alt (1) maidir leis an duine sin i ndáil leis an gcúiseamh.
(3) Más rud é, tráth ar bith sula dtosófar ar dhuine a thriail i gcion banéigin, go ndéanfaidh duine eile atá le cúiseamh i gcion banéigin sa triail iarratas chun breitheamh den Ard-Chúirt nó den Chúirt Chuarda ar ordachán de bhun an fho-ailt seo agus go ndeimhneoidh sé don bhreitheamh—
(a) go bhfuil an t-ordachán ag teastáil chun daoine ar dóigh gá a bheith leo mar fhinnéithe sa triail a aslú chun teacht i láthair, agus
(b) gur dóigh, mura dtabharfar an t-ordachán, go ndéanfaidh sé dochar don chaoi a seolfar cosaint an iarratasóra sa triail,
ordóidh an breitheamh nach mbeidh feidhm, de bhua an chúisimh ag líomhain an chiona réamhráite, ag fo-alt (1) maidir le cibé ábhar i dtaobh an duine chéadluaite a bheidh sonraithe san ordachán.
(4) Más rud é nuair a bheidh duine á thriail i gcion banéigin go ndéanfaidh duine eile atá cúisithe freisin sa triail iarratas chun an bhreithimh ar ordachán de bhun an fho-ailt seo agus go ndeimhneoidh sé don bhreitheamh—
(a) go bhfuil an t-ordachán ag teastáil chun daoine ar dóigh gá a bheith leo mar fhinnéithe sa triail a aslú chun teacht i láthair,
(b) gur dóigh, mura dtabharfar an t-ordachán, go ndéanfaidh sé dochar don chaoi a seolfar cosaint an iarratasóra, agus
(c) go raibh cúis mhaith nach ndearna sé iarratas faoi fho-alt (3) roimh thosach na trialach,
ordóidh an breitheamh nach mbeidh feidhm, de bhua an chúisimh ag líomhain an chiona réamhráite, ag fo-alt (1) maidir le cibé ábhar i dtaobh an duine chéadluaite a bheidh sonraithe san ordachán.
(5) Más rud é i dtriail ina ndéanfar duine a chúiseamh i gcion banéigin gur deimhin leis an mbreitheamh gurb é is éifeacht d'fho-alt (1) sriantacht úimléideach mhíréasúnach a chur le tuairisciú imeachtaí sa triail agus gur le leas an phobail an tsriantacht a dhíchur nó a mhaolú maidir leis an duine sin, ordóidh an breitheamh nach mbeidh feidhm, de bhua an chúisimh ag líomhain an chiona réamhráite, ag fo-alt (1) maidir le cibé ábhar i dtaobh an duine sin a bheidh sonraithe san ordachán.
(6) Beidh éifeacht le fo-ailt (6) go (9) d'alt 7 chun críocha an ailt seo ionann is dá gcuirfí tagairtí don alt seo in ionad na dtagairtí don alt sin.
(7) Más rud é, tar éis tosú ar dhuine a thriail i gcion banéigin, go n-ordófar go gcuirfear triail nua ar an duine sin sa chion sin, ní thabharfar aird chun críocha fho-ailt (2), (3) agus (4) ar thosach aon trialach roimhe sin ar an duine sin sa chion sin.
Trialacha ag armchúirt.
9.—(1) Baineann an tAcht seo le cion banéigin a thriail ag armchúirt fara na modhnuithe is gá.
(2) Go háirithe—
(a) in ionad na dtagairtí do bhreitheamh in alt 7 (2) nó in alt 8 (3) agus in ionad na dtagairtí do bhreitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche in alt 8 (2) cuirfear tagairtí don údarás comórtha, agus
(b) in ionad na dtagairtí in alt 3 agus in ionad tagairtí eile in alt 7 nó 8 do bhreitheamh cuirfear tagairtí don armchúirt.
Ionsaí mígheanasach ar bhaineannach a phionósú.
10.—(1) Má chiontaítear duine ar díotáil mar gheall ar aon ionsaí mígheanasach ar bhaineannach dlífear príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná 10 mbliana a chur air.
(2) Aisghairtear leis seo alt 6 d'Acht Leasuithe an Dlí Choiriúla, 1935.
Pionós mar gheall ar ábhar neamhúdaraithe a fhoilsiú.
11.—(1) Duine a bheidh ciontach i gcion faoi alt 7 (6) (lena n-áirítear cion faoin alt sin arna fheidhmiú le halt 8 (6)) dlífear ar é a chiontú ar díotáil fíneáil nach mó ná £10,000 nó, de rogha na cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná 3 bliana nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile a chur air.
(2) (a) I gcás a gcruthófar maidir le cion lena mbaineann fo-alt (1) agus a rinne comhlacht corpraithe, go ndearnadh é le toiliú nó le cúlcheadú, nó gur inchurtha é i leith aon fhaillí ar thaobh, aon duine is stiúrthóir, bainisteoir, rúnaí nó oifigeach eile de chuid an chomhlachta chorpraithe nó aon duine a d'airbheartaigh a bheith ag gníomhú in aon cháil den sórt sin, beidh an duine sin ciontach sa chion sin chomh maith leis an gcomhlacht corpraithe agus dlífear imeachtaí a thionscnamh ina choinne agus é a phionósú dá réir sin.
(b) I gcás gnóthaí comhlachta chorpraithe a bheith á mbainistí ag a chomhaltaí, beidh feidhm ag mír (a) i ndáil le gníomhartha agus mainneachtaintí comhalta i ndáil lena fheidhmeanna bainistí ionann is dá mba stiúrthóir ar an gcomhlacht corpraithe é.
(3) I gcás ina gcúiseofar duine i gcion lena mbaineann fo-alt (1) is cosaint é a chruthú nárbh eol dó, nó nach raibh amhras air ná cúis aige bheith in amhras, san am a ndearnadh an cion a líomhnaíodh, gur ábhar den sórt a luaitear in alt 7 (1) nó in alt 8 (1), cibé acu é, a bhí san fhoilseachán nó sa chraoladh áirithe.
Dlínse achomair.
12.—(1) Beidh dlínse ag breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche cion lena mbaineann alt 10 nó 11 a thriail go hachomair—
(i) más é tuairim an bhreithimh gur mionchion is intriailte go hachomair na fíorais a cruthaíodh nó a líomhnaíodh i gcoinne cosantóir a bheidh cúisithe sa chion sin,
(ii) má thoilíonn an Stiúrthóir Ionchúiseamh Poiblí, agus
(iii) mura ndéanfaidh an cosantóir (ar an mbreitheamh á chur in iúl dó go bhfuil de cheart aige go dtrialfadh giúiré é) agóid i gcoinne a thriail go hachomair,
agus, ar an gcosantóir a chiontú faoin bhfo-alt seo, dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná £500 nó, de rogha na cúirte, príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná 12 mhí nó an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile a chur air.
(2) Beidh feidhm ag alt 13 den Acht um Nós Imeachta Coiriúil, 1967 (a fhorálann an nós imeachta má phléadálann duine ciontach sa Chúirt Dúiche i gcion indíotáilte) i ndáil le cion a luaitear i bhfo-alt (1) ionann is dá ndéanfaí, in ionad na bpionós a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (3) den alt sin 13, na pionóis dá bhforáiltear le fo-alt (1) den alt seo a shonrú ann, agus déanfar an tagairt i bhfo-alt (2) (a) den alt sin 13 do na pionóis dá bhforáiltear i bhfo-alt (3) den alt sin a fhorléiriú dá réir sin.
(3) Ní bhainfidh alt 2 den Acht um Cheartas Coiriúil, 1951 (a fhorálann do na cionta indíotáilte a fhéadfar a thriail go hachomair le toiliú an chúisí) le cion lena mbaineann alt 10.
Gearrtheideal agus tosach feidhme.
13.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht um an Dlí Coiriúil (Banéigean), 1981, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo i ngníomh mí tar éis dáta a rite.
(3) Ní bheidh éifeacht le halt 3 (lena n-áirítear an t-alt sin arna fheidhmiú le hailt 5 agus 9) ná le halt 4 i ndáil le triail nó réamhcheistiú a thosóidh roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo agus ní bheidh éifeacht le hailt 7 agus 8 i ndáil le cúiseamh ag líomhain ciona banéigin a dhéanfar roimh an tosach feidhme sin.
(4) Ní bheidh éifeacht le halt 10 ná, a mhéid a bhaineann sé le cion faoi alt 10, le halt 12, i ndáil le cion a dhéanfar roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo.
Na hAchtanna dá dTagraítear | |
Children Act, 1908 | 1908, c. 67 |
Offences against the Person Act, 1861 | 1861, c. 100 |
Summary Jurisdiction over Children (Ireland) Act, 1884 | 1884, c. 19 |