# Magistrates’ Courts Rules (Northern Ireland) 1984, Rule 102: Order of Proceedings at the hearing of a complaint in a civil matter

Extent: N.I.

The procedure upon the hearing of a complaint in a civil matter shall be as follows:—
(a) the substance of the complaint shall be stated to the defendant and, if necessary, explained to him; whereupon, unless precluded from making an order without hearing evidence, the court shall ask him whether or not he admits the truth of the complaint;
(b) where the defendant admits the truth of the complaint or consents to the making of an order against him under Article 80(3) of the Order, the court may be addressed first by the complainant or his counsel or solicitor and then by the defendant or his counsel or solicitor;
(c) where the defendant does not admit the truth of the complaint or consent to the making of an order against him, the complainant or his counsel or solicitor shall call his evidence and before doing so may address the court;
(d) at the conclusion of the evidence for the complainant, the defendant or his counsel or solicitor may address the court whether or not he afterwards calls evidence;
(e) at the conclusion of the evidence, if any, for the defence, the complainant or his counsel or solicitor may, with the leave of the court, call evidence to rebut that evidence;
(f) at the conclusion of the evidence, if any, for the defence and the evidence in rebuttal as aforesaid, the defendant or his counsel or solicitor may address the court—
(i) if he has not previously done so; or
(ii) with the leave of the court, if the defendant and any other witness have been called on the part of the defendant.
Provided always that notwithstanding anything in the previous provisions of this Rule, the court may permit or invite the defendant or complainant or his counsel or solicitor to make a submission on a point of law arising at any stage of the proceedings and in that event shall permit the complainant or defendant or his counsel or solicitor, as the case may be, to reply.

---
Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/1984/225/rule/102 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-rules-northern-ireland-1984/rule-102
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.