Criminal Trial
Information
There are two types of criminal offences;
- Summary offences, i.e., offences that are tried by a judge sitting alone
- Indictable offences, i.e., offences that can be tried by a judge and jury.
There are two types of trial:
- A summary trial - a trial conducted by a judge sitting alone
- A jury trial - a trial conducted by a judge sitting with a jury.
If you are accused of a criminal offence, you may qualify for criminal legal aid, which provides free legal representation in criminal cases.
Before the actual trial takes place, there are a number of issues that will come up including the Book of Evidenceand the option of pleading guilty.
After the trial, there is the sentence.
Rules
The court that will hear and decide on the case will depend on the type of offence involved:
The District Court – Criminal Jurisdiction
The Circuit Court – Criminal Jurisdiction
Language
Related Documents
- District Court
The District Court is organised on a regional basis and is the lowest court in the Irish court system. - Legal representation in criminal cases
Types of criminal offence and the role of your defence counsel in a criminal case in Ireland are described. - Pleading Guilty
It is possible to plead guilty to a criminal offence at any stage during a court case in Ireland. Find out what happens when you plead guilty.
Contact Us
If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.