Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015

The Grand Jury (Abolition) Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 (c. 15)

1.—(1) Section 2 (procedures for indictment of offenders) is amended as follows.

(2) After subsection (3) insert—

“(3A) Subsection (3) does not apply in a case where the indictment is presented against a person who was committed for trial under Chapter2 of Part 2 of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015.”.

(3) After subsection (5) insert—

“(5ZA) In a case where the indictment is presented against a person who was committed for trial under Chapter2 of Part 2 of the Justice Act (Northern Ireland) 2015—

(a) subsection (5) does not apply; and

(b) the indictment or any count in the indictment may charge any other indictable offence which is founded on facts or evidence disclosed in the documents given to the Crown Court in accordance with provision made under section 13(2)(a) of that Act;

but the judge presiding at the court before which the indictment is presented may, if he thinks it just to do so, disallow or quash any indictment or count presented by virtue of this subsection.”.

(4) In subsection (6) after “(5)” insert “or (5ZA)”.