{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-rules-northern-ireland-1984/rule-149AL",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-rules-northern-ireland-1984/rule-149AL.json",
  "legislation": "nisr/1984/225",
  "legislation_title": "Magistrates’ Courts Rules (Northern Ireland) 1984",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/magistrates-courts-rules-northern-ireland-1984",
  "path": "rule/149AL",
  "kind": "rule",
  "number": "149AL",
  "heading": "Appointment arranged by the defendant",
  "text": "(1) The defendant may arrange for the qualified legal representative, appointed by the court under Article 26(4) of the 1999 Order, to be appointed to act for him for the purpose of cross-examining any witness in respect of whom a prohibition under Article 22, 23 or 24 of the 1999 Order applies.\n(2) Where such an appointment is made –\n(a) the defendant shall notify the court of the appointment in Form 15E;\n(b) the qualified legal representative shall notify the court of the appointment in Form 15G; and\n(c) the qualified legal representative shall, from the time of his appointment, act for the defendant as though the arrangement had been made under Article 26(2)(a) of the 1999 Order and shall cease to be the representative of the court under Article 26(4) of the 1999 Order.\n(3) Where the court receives notification of the appointment either from the qualified legal representative or from the defendant but not from both, the court shall investigate whether the appointment has been made, and if it concludes that the appointment has not been made, paragraph (2)(c) shall not apply.\n(4) The defendant may, notwithstanding an appointment by the court under Article 26(4) of the 1999 Order, arrange for a legal representative to act for him for the purpose of cross-examining any witness in respect of whom a prohibition under Article 22, 23 or 24 applies.\n(5) Where the defendant arranges for, or informs the court of his intention to arrange for a legal representative to act for him, he shall notify the court within such period as the court may allow, of the name and address of any person appointed to act for him.\n(6) Where the court is notified within the time allowed that such an appointment has been made, any qualified legal representative appointed by the court in accordance with Article 26(4) of the 1999 Order shall be discharged.\n(7) The clerk of petty sessions shall as soon as reasonably practicable after notification is received by the court, or where paragraph (3) applies, after the court is satisfied that the appointment has been made, notify all the parties to the proceedings in Form 15H –\n(a) that the appointment has been made;\n(b) where paragraph (4) applies, of the name and address of the person appointed;\n(c) that the person appointed by the court under Article 26(4) of the 1999 Order has been discharged or has ceased to act for the court.",
  "extent": "N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/1984/225/rule/149AL",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T03:32:12.928261+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}