Please note that from the 5 September 2005 all applications for bail, including variations and Schedule 2 applications should be lodged whether in person, by fax or e-mail with the RCJ Front of House office. Staff at the Front of House will deal with pre-court procedures and enquiries. The Central Office will retain responsibility for court registrar duties and production of the court order.

The procedure for High Court Bail

A Procedure for first bail applications

Applications for bail will be listed promptly for hearing on working weekdays and on Saturdays (Saturday hearings apply in respect of cases under Section 67 of the Terrorism Act).

Special arrangements apply for compassionate bail or in exceptional cases. In these cases the listing officer will contact the rota judge about the possibility of an early hearing.

The following arrangements apply for these bail hearings:

• for requests received on a working Monday to Thursday before noon the case will be listed for the next working day;
• for requests received on a Thursday afternoon, or Friday morning, the solicitor will be offered the opportunity to have a Saturday hearing;
• for requests received after noon but before 3.00pm on a Friday the solicitor will be offered a listing on the next Monday providing DPP/PSNI are available;

Sureties perfecting recognizances may be taken at Laganside before 4.30pm or after this time at the place of detention of the applicant.  From 3 September 2005 on Saturdays sureties perfecting recognizances will relocate to the Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ) before 12.00 and after this time at the place of detention.

Second or Subsequent Bail Hearings

Second or subsequent bail hearings, to include applications for variations and, unless a date has been set by the court, adjournments (called “repeat applications” below)

Applications for bail will be listed for hearing promptly on working weekdays.

Special arrangements apply for compassionate bail or in exceptional cases.  In these cases the listing officer will contact the rota judge about the possibility of an early hearing.

For repeat applications the procedure is as follows:

for applications received by 4.00pm on weekdays the case will be listed, two working days (Monday – Friday) later,
for example, an application on, a Tuesday morning will be listed on Thursday or on a Friday by 4.00pm on the next Tuesday.

These cases will be heard in the Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ).

Provisional listings for the recess periods are set out in the attached annex.

Telephone and fax contacts:

• Bail Office, Royal Courts of Justice Telephone –  9072 4643 or 9072 4619
• Bail Office, Royal Courts of Justice Fax – 9023 5186
• Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service Switchboard -  9032 8594
• Email frontofhousercj@courtsni.gov.uk

Note

This takes account of the fact that the defendant has already had a hearing before a High Court judge who has remanded him or her in custody and that the defence and prosecution are entitled to a reasonable period to prepare for the hearing and to arrange attendance.  This approach is intended to reduce adjournments and to enable the prosecution to be prepared for the hearing, thereby ensuring that the interests of justice are served.