(LRC Revised)

Number 27 of 2010

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 2010

REVISED

Updated to 31 December 2024

Changes to legislation

as of 10 July 2026, this Act is up to date with all changes known to be in force.

This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the

Criminal Procedure Act 2010.

It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under

the

Law Reform Commission Act 2010

(3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation

of statute law.

All Acts up to and including the

Family Courts Act 2024

(48/2024), enacted 13 November 2024, and all statutory

instruments up to and including the

Physiotherapists Registration Board Application for Registration Bye-Law 2025

(S.I. No. 2 of 2025), made 7 January 2025, were considered in the preparation of

this Revised Act.

Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act,

the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees,

undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature

of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from

any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email

to

revisedacts@lawreform.ie.

Number

27

of

2010

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 2010

REVISED

Updated to 31 December 2024

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART 1

Preliminary and General

Section

1. Short title and commencement.

2. Interpretation.

3. Expenses.

PART 2

Impact of Crime on Victim

4. Amendment of section 5 of Act of 1993.

5. Evidence through television link.

6. Evidence through intermediary.

PART 3

Exceptions to rule against double jeopardy

Chapter 1

Interpretation

7. Interpretation (

Part 3

).

Chapter 2

Application for re-trial orders under Part 3

8. Application by Director seeking re-trial order where new and compelling evidence

becomes available.

9. Application by Director for re-trial order where previous acquittal tainted.

10. Re-trial orders.

11. Amendment of Act of 1962.

12. Orders to safeguard fairness of re-trial.

13. Effect of re-trial order.

14. Appeals on point of law to Supreme Court.

(repealed)

Chapter 3

Approval of District Court for exercise of certain powers relating to persons acquitted

of relevant offences

15. Certain powers may be used only in accordance with Act.

16. Arrest of person in respect of whom

section 15

applies may be authorised by District Court in certain circumstances.

17. Arrest in certain circumstances of person in respect of whom

section 15

applies where person is in prison etc.

18. Search warrant in aid of investigation relating to relevant offences may be authorised

by District Court in certain circumstances.

Chapter 4

Miscellaneous

19. Admissibility of evidence in proceedings under Part.

20. Other appeals or review rights not affected.

21. Application of section 6 of Prosecution of Offences Act 1974.

22. Rules of court and expeditious hearings.

PART 4

Appeals and Matters Relating to Appeals

Chapter 1

With prejudice prosecution appeals

23. Appeals by Director etc., in certain criminal proceedings.

24. No appeal in certain circumstances.

25. Orders to safeguard fairness of re-trial.

26. Order for re-trial following appeal under

section 23

.

27. Amendment of section 3 of Criminal Justice Act 1994.

28. Other appeals or review rights not affected.

29. Application of section 6 of Prosecution of Offences Act 1974.

30. Rules of court and expeditious hearings.

Chapter 2

Miscellaneous matters relating to appeals

31. Amendment of Courts of Justice Act 1924.

32. Amendment of section 44 of Offences Against the State Act 1939.

PART 5

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Chapter 1

Giving of Evidence

33. Amendment of Criminal Justice (Evidence) Act 1924.

34. Expert evidence adduced by defence.

35. Return or disposal of property to be used as evidence.

Chapter 2

Miscellaneous amendments

36. Amendment of section 22 of Courts Act 1991.

37. Amendment of Act of 1967.

38. Amendment to First Schedule to Criminal Justice Act 1951.

SCHEDULE

RELEVANT OFFENCES

Acts Referred to

Air Navigation and Transport Act 1973

1973, No. 29

Air Navigation and Transport Act 1975

1975, No. 9

Broadcasting Act 2009

2009, No. 18

Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998

1998, No. 22

Children Act 2001

2001, No. 24

Courts Act 1991

1991, No. 20

Courts of Justice Act 1924

1924, No. 10

Criminal Damage Act 1991

1991, No. 31

Criminal Evidence Act 1992

1992, No. 12

Criminal Justice (Evidence) Act 1924

1924, No. 37

Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962

1962, No. 12

Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005

2005, No. 2

Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001

2001, No. 50

Criminal Justice (United Nations Convention against Torture) Act 2000

2000, No. 11

Criminal Justice Act 1951

1951, No. 2

Criminal Justice Act 1984

1984, No. 22

Criminal Justice Act 1990

1990, No. 16

Criminal Justice Act 1993

1993, No. 6

Criminal Justice Act 1994

1994, No. 15

Criminal Justice Act 1999

1999, No. 10

Criminal Justice Act 2006

2006, No. 26

Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act 2008

2008, No. 8

Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006

2006, No. 11

Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act 1990

1990, No. 32

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006

2006, No. 15

Criminal Procedure Act 1967

1967, No. 12

Explosive Substances Act 1883

46 & 47 Vict., c. 3

Firearms Act 1925

1925, No. 17

Firearms Act 1964

1964, No. 1

International Criminal Court Act 2006

2006, No. 30

Maritime Security Act 2004

2004, No. 29

Misuse of Drugs Act 1977

1977, No. 12

Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997

1997, No. 26

Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998

1998, No. 39

Offences Against the State Act 1939

1939, No. 13

Prevention of Corruption Act 1906

6 Edw. 7, c. 34

Prisons Act 2007

2007, No. 10

Prosecution of Offences Act 1974

1974, No. 22

Punishment of Incest Act 1908

8 Edw. 7, c. 45

Number

27

of

2010

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT 2010

REVISED

Updated to 31 December 2024

AN ACT TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 1993; TO AMEND CRIMINAL LAW AND

PROCEDURE IN OTHER RESPECTS, INCLUDING MAKING PROVISION FOR EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE

AGAINST DOUBLE JEOPARDY SO AS TO ENABLE THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL TO HEAR AND DETERMINE

APPLICATIONS BROUGHT IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES BY THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS

TO QUASH CERTAIN ACQUITTALS AND TO HAVE PERSONS WHO ARE THE SUBJECT OF THOSE APPLICATIONS

RE-TRIED, AND TO PROVIDE FOR AN APPEAL TO THE SUPREME COURT ON A POINT OF LAW FROM

A DETERMINATION OF THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL IN RESPECT OF SUCH APPLICATIONS; TO

EXTEND THE POWERS OF THE GARDA SÍOCHÁNA IN RELATION TO THE INVESTIGATION OF CERTAIN OFFENCES; TO EXTEND THE CIRCUMSTANCES

IN WHICH THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS OR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AS MAY BE APPROPRIATE,

MAY TAKE AN APPEAL IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS; TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE (EVIDENCE)

ACT 1924 AND TO AMEND AND EXTEND THE LAW RELATING TO EVIDENCE IN OTHER RESPECTS; TO

AMEND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 1994, THE COURTS ACT 1991, THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ACT

1967, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE (LEGAL AID) ACT 1962, THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 1951, THE

OFFENCES AGAINST THE STATE ACT 1939 AND THE COURTS OF JUSTICE ACT 1924; AND TO PROVIDE

FOR RELATED MATTERS.

[20

th July

, 2010]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

PART 1

Preliminary and General

Section

1. Short title and commencement.

2. Interpretation.

3. Expenses.

PART 2

Impact of Crime on Victim

4. Amendment of section 5 of Act of 1993.

5. Evidence through television link.

6. Evidence through intermediary.

PART 3

Exceptions to rule against double jeopardy

Chapter 1

Interpretation

7. Interpretation (

Part 3

).

Chapter 2

Application for re-trial orders under Part 3

8. Application by Director seeking re-trial order where new and compelling evidence

becomes available.

9. Application by Director for re-trial order where previous acquittal tainted.

10. Re-trial orders.

11. Amendment of Act of 1962.

12. Orders to safeguard fairness of re-trial.

13. Effect of re-trial order.

14. Appeals on point of law to Supreme Court.

(repealed)

Chapter 3

Approval of District Court for exercise of certain powers relating to persons acquitted

of relevant offences

15. Certain powers may be used only in accordance with Act.

16. Arrest of person in respect of whom

section 15

applies may be authorised by District Court in certain circumstances.

17. Arrest in certain circumstances of person in respect of whom

section 15

applies where person is in prison etc.

18. Search warrant in aid of investigation relating to relevant offences may be authorised

by District Court in certain circumstances.

Chapter 4

Miscellaneous

19. Admissibility of evidence in proceedings under Part.

20. Other appeals or review rights not affected.

21. Application of section 6 of Prosecution of Offences Act 1974.

22. Rules of court and expeditious hearings.

PART 4

Appeals and Matters Relating to Appeals

Chapter 1

With prejudice prosecution appeals

23. Appeals by Director etc., in certain criminal proceedings.

24. No appeal in certain circumstances.

25. Orders to safeguard fairness of re-trial.

26. Order for re-trial following appeal under

section 23

.

27. Amendment of section 3 of Criminal Justice Act 1994.

28. Other appeals or review rights not affected.

29. Application of section 6 of Prosecution of Offences Act 1974.

30. Rules of court and expeditious hearings.

Chapter 2

Miscellaneous matters relating to appeals

31. Amendment of Courts of Justice Act 1924.

32. Amendment of section 44 of Offences Against the State Act 1939.

PART 5

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Chapter 1

Giving of Evidence

33. Amendment of Criminal Justice (Evidence) Act 1924.

34. Expert evidence adduced by defence.

35. Return or disposal of property to be used as evidence.

Chapter 2

Miscellaneous amendments

36. Amendment of section 22 of Courts Act 1991.

37. Amendment of Act of 1967.

38. Amendment to First Schedule to Criminal Justice Act 1951.

SCHEDULE

RELEVANT OFFENCES