Explanatory note

These Rules amend the County Court Rules (Northern Ireland) 1981 by substituting a new Part II in Order 24 to give effect to the Civil Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1997.

As envisaged by Article 4(1) of the 1997 Order, where a hearsay statement is adduced in civil proceedings the maker of the statement may be called by another party and cross-examined as if the statement were his evidence in chief.

Where a party indicates that he intends to adduce hearsay evidence of a statement made by a person and will not call that person as a witness, any other party intending to attack the credibility of the person making the statement shall, so far as is reasonable, give notice of his intention to attack the person’s credibility.