Rule 2 Interpretation

In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires,—

• "^f1 the Act" means the Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978;

• “chief clerk” [^f2...] includes such other [^f3 civil servant in the Department of Justice] as may be authorised to act on his behalf for the purpose in question;

• “committal proceedings” means proceedings before a magistrates' court conducting a preliminary investigation or preliminary enquiry;

• “depositions” means depositions taken before a magistrates' court and includes written statements tendered in evidence under section 3 of the Criminal Procedure (Committal for Trial Act) (Northern Ireland) 1968^f4, and

• document exhibited to such depositions or statements and the statement of the accused;

• “judge” means a judge of the High Court or a county court judge;

• “magistrates' court” means a court under the Magistrates' Courts Act (Northern Ireland) 1964^f5 or the Children and Young Persons Act (Northern Ireland) 1968^f6;

• “prosecutor” means the Director of Public Prosecutions when the prosecution is being carried on by him;

• “Taxing Master” means the Master (Taxing Office) or such other person as may be designated or appointed to exercise jurisdiction under section 60(1) of the Act;

• [^f7 “the 1999 Act” means the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999.)

• [^f8 “the 1999 Order” means the Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1999^f9.]

• [^f10 “the 2004 Order” means the Criminal Justice (Evidence) (Northern Ireland) Order 2004^f11.]

In these Rules any reference to a rule or schedule shall be construed as a reference to a rule contained in these Rules or as the case may be, to a schedule thereto; and any reference in a rule to a paragraph shall be construed as a reference to a paragraph of that rule.

The forms in the schedule shall be used where applicable with such variations as the circumstances of the particular case require.