County Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1980

Reference to officer N.I.

32.—(1) Subject to county court rules the judge may refer to a circuit registrar or an officer of the court for inquiry and report—

(a) any proceedings requiring any prolonged examination of documents or any scientific or local examination which cannot, in the opinion of the judge, conveniently be made before him;

(b) any proceedings where the question in dispute consists wholly or partly of matters of account;

(c) with the consent of the parties, any other proceedings;

(d) any question arising in any proceedings.

(2) Subject to county court rules, every such reference shall be conducted in accordance with the directions of the judge.

(3) The judge may remit any report for further inquiry and report, and on the consideration of any report or further report may give such judgment or make such order as may seem just.

(4) The judge may, after deciding or reserving any question of liability, refer to a circuit registrar or an officer of the court any mere matter of account which is in dispute between the parties and, after deciding the question of liability, may give judgment on the circuit registrar's or officer's report.