Rule 16 Endorsement of warrants of commitment as to release on bail

Where a magistrates’ court commits an accused for trial in custody in accordance with Article 37 of the Order or remands an accused in custody in accordance with Article 47 of the Order it may certify its consent to bail either on a separate form or by endorsement on the warrant of commitment and the certificate of such consent may be signed on behalf of the court by the clerk of petty sessions.

^f1 Where under Article 5(5)(a) or Article 28(2)(b) of, or Schedule 2 to, the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1996, the court commits an offender in custody until he can be brought or appear before the Crown Court, it may certify its consent to bail by endorsement on the warrant of commitment in Form 11A and the certificate of such consent may be signed on behalf of the court by the clerk of petty sessions.]

The certificate, in addition to specifying the amount of the recognizance to be entered into by the accused, shall also specify the amount of the recognizance to be entered into by any surety required by the court under Article 136 of the Order or the amount of any sum of money or valuable security to be deposited under Article 137 of the Order in lieu of sureties.

Where an accused is remanded in custody or is committed for trial in custody and is subsequently granted bail before the expiration of the period for which he was originally remanded or before the sitting of the court to which he is committed for trial, upon an application by or on behalf of the accused to the court, the court shall issue a warrant for his discharge from prison to take effect from the completion of the necessary recognizance.