Administration of Justice Act 1973

18 Payment of interpreters in criminal cases (Northern Ireland).E+W+N.I.

(1)In the Costs in Criminal Cases Act (Northern Ireland) 1968, after section 5 thereof, there shall be inserted the following section—

5A Fees of required interpreter.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act, where in any criminal proceedings an interpreter is required because of a defendant’s lack of English, the expenses properly incurred on his employment shall, in accordance with rules made pursuant to section 7, be defrayed by the Ministry.

(2)Where in any of the following proceedings, that is to say,—

(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

(b)any proceedings before . . . F2 the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland in a criminal cause or matter;

(c)any proceedings on an appeal to [F3the [F4Court of Judicature]] from a decision in proceedings within . . . F5 (b) above or an application for leave to appeal from such a decision;

an interpreter is required because of a defendant’s lack of English, the expenses properly incurred on his employment shall be defrayed by the [F6Department of Justice], up to an amount allowed by [F7the High Court] or (in the case of proceedings in [F3the [F4Court of Judicature]]) by [F3the [F4Court of Judicature]].

In this subsection “defendant” means the person (whether convicted or not) who is alleged to be guilty of an offence.

(3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F8

Textual Amendments

F4S. 18: words substituted (1.10.2009) in each place in Act by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 59, 148, Sch. 11 para. 6; S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2(d)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1The text of ss. 7(2), 14(1), 18(1) and Sch. 2 Pt. II and part of s. 1(9) is in the form in which it was originall enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and, except as specified does not reflect any amendments or repeals made prior to 1.2.1991.