WR CIVIL 2 Flashcards
WHat is the maximum sentence of imprisonment that a district court judge can impose for one offence (unless the statute creating the offence specifies a lower maximum)
1. 2 yrs
2. one yr
3. 6 mos
4. 3 mos
2 one yr
Denis was convicted of a number of sexual offences in the Circuit Criminal Court and was given a 2 yr suspended sentence. The trial judge referred to the failure of the State to provide appropriate therapy for sex offenders in prison as one of his reasons for suspending the sentence. The Director of Public Prosecutions has applied to the Court of Criminal Appeal for a review of the sentence on the grounds that it is unduly lenient. Which of the following accurately states the approach which should be taken by the Court of Criminal Appeal (“the Court”)?
1. The Court must decide what it considers the appropriate sentence would have been in this particualr case, if it considers a harsher sentence qould have been appropriate (even if only slightly harsher) it must intervene and adjust the sentence.
2. The Court must intervene and adjust the sentence unless the convicted person establishes on a balance of probabilities that the sentence is not unduly lenient.
3. The Court must first establish that the original sentence is wrong in principle before it can exercise its jurisdiction to consider an appropriate sentence for the accused
4. The Court must not intervene as it only has jurisdiction to vary a sentence if that sentence has been appealed by the convicted person, it has no jurisdiction to review a sentence on application by the DPP
3 The Court must first establish that the original sentence is wrong in principle before it can exercise its jurisdiction to consider an appropriate sentence for the accused
A group of you are having a discussion about the two tyoes of case stated that can be sought in the District Court. It is accepted among you that the appeal by way of case stated at the end of the District Court proceedings. In the discussion, the following assertions are made however only one of them is correct. Which one?
1. In the appeal by way of case stated, the High Court can reverse, affirm or amend the determination of the District Court on the basis od the law determined or it can remit the case back to the court. However, the High Court has no power to amend or reduce a oenalty imposed by the District Court on the hearing of the case stated.
2. In the appeal by way of case stated, the High Court can reverse, affirm or amend the determination of the District Court on the basis od the law determined or it can remit the case back to the court. The High Court also has a descretion to amend or reduce a oenalty imposed by the District Court on the hearing of the case stated.
3. The decision of the High Court in an appeal by way of case stated can be appealed to the Supreme Court where is a point of exceptional public importance
4. The is no statutory right to appeal the determination of the High Court on consulatative case stated to the Supreme Court.
1 In the appeal by way of case stated, the High Court can reverse, affirm or amend the determination of the District Court on the basis od the law determined or it can remit the case back to the court. Hoowever, the High Court has no power to amend or reduce a oenalty imposed by the District Court on the hearing of the case stated.
Which of the following statements is/are correct in relation to disclosure in criminal cases?
(i) The Gardaí have a duty to seek out and preserve evidence which has a bearing or potential bearing on the issue of guilt or innocence. Failure to do so may result in the prosecution being prohibited from proceeding.
(ii)Information relating to Garda informers is covered by public interest privilege and therefore teh court can never order the disclosure of the name of a garda informer.
1. (i) only
2. (ii) only
3. Both (i) and (ii)
4. Neither (i) nor (ii)
- (i) only
Which of the following statements is/are correct?
(i)If a person stands as a surety the must always lodge the full amount of the surety with the court.
(ii)A court is entitled to take into account the relatinonship of the proposed surety to the accused before decideing whether the proposed surety is suitable.
1. (i) only
2. (ii) only
3. Both (i) an (ii)
4. Neither (i) nor (ii)
2 (ii) only
Under the Children’s Act 2001, 3 of the following categories of persons are entitles to attend proceedings in the Children’s Court. However, one category will be excluded unless the court uses it’s discretion to permit them to retain. Which one?
1. Parents of accused child
2. Guardian of accused child
3. Bona fide of accused child
4. Counsel representing a child in a differnet case, waiting for the other case to be called on
4 Counsel representing a child in a differnet case, waiting for the other case to be called on
Which of the followin statements is correct in relation to admission of hearsay evidence in bail applications?
1. Hearsay evidencecan never be admitted in a bail application as this would be grossly prejudicial to the accused
2. Hearsay evidence must always be admitted in a bail application as this assists the efficient administration of justice and avoids delay.
3. The judge has a discretion whether to admit hearsay evidence in the bail applications but can only admit such evidence if it realtes to the alleged offence itself and goes to show the guilt of the sccused. Hearsay evidence relatin to reasons for the objection for bail cannot be heard as these are collateral matters.
4. The Judge has a discretion whether to admit hearsay evidence in a bail application.
4 The Judge has a discretion whether to admit hearsay evidence in a bail application.
Xavier, a foreign national, pleads guilty to theft in the District Court. Which of the following oreders or sentences can the judge NOT make or impose under any circumstances
1. Fine
2. Deportation Order
3. Suspended sentence of imprisonment on condition that Xavier keeps the peace and is of good behavior and also on condition that he leaves the State and does not return for a specifies perios
4.Community service order
2 Deportation Order
Which of hte following statements relating to S,4 of the Criminal Law Act 1997 is corrrect?
(i) An offence punishable by at least 3yrs imprisonment is an arrestable offence for the purposes of the section
(ii)None of the powers of arrest without warrant conferred to under the section apply to persons who are not members of An Garda Siochanna
1. (i) only
2. (ii) Only
3. (i) and (ii)
4. Neither (i) nor (i)
4 Neither (i) nor (i)
The Gardai lawfully arrest John and immediately search his immediate environment. Which of the following categories of goods in John’s custody or posession may they seize if the believe it is necessary to do so to prevent the destruction of the goods?
(i)Evidence in support of the criminal charge on foot of which he was arrested
(ii)Evidence in suppprt of any other criminal charge against John then being contemplated
(iii)Goods which the Gardaí reasonably believe to be stolen property an/or goods which the Gardaí reasonably believe are unlawfully in John’s posession
1. (i) only
2. (i) and (iii) only
3. (i), (ii) and (iii)
4. None of the above. The gardai may not seize anything they as do not have a serch warrant
3 (i), (ii) and (iii)
Felicity is 15. She is the only witness to the commission of a crime and is terrifies that the accused will intimidate her in Court to the extent that she may be unable to egive evidence. You act for the prosecution. In order to assist her, you make an applicatioin to the court that her evidence be given by live video link in accordance with provisions of Sections 12-19 of the Criminal (EvidenceO Act 1992 as ammended. Your application will be unsuccessful if the offece charged is;
1. S3 Assault causing harm
2. Larceny
3. Rape
4. Robbery
2 Larceny
Paul is charged with the arson of Michaels caravan which was parked at the side of a road in Ringsend. In drafting the indictment, counsel for prosecution must:
1. Refer to a caravan, state that is was not Paul’ property and identify the road so as to describe the property in question and the location of the offence with sufficient particularity
2. Refer to the caravan by registration number, make and model, state the full name of the owner and give the name of the road in question and the name of the area i.e. Ringsend in Dublin
3. Refer to general address and attach a photgraph of the caravan
4. Refer to the caravan only, stating it’s owner and approximate values, the address is immaterial given that the caravan was not there permanenty
1 Refer to a caravan, state that is was not Paul’ property and identify the road so as to describe the property in question and the location of the offence with sufficient particularity
When a witness has made an out-of-court statement priot to giving evidence at trail, it is always admissable when
1. It’s consistent with his evidence
2. It’s inconsistent with his evidence
3. It was made contemporaneously
4. It doesn’t contain any hearsay
2 It’s inconsistent with his evidence
In which of the following circumstances is it possible to sentence a 16 yr old boy to a sentence of imprisonment?
1. Where the Court certified that the young person is of so unruly a character that he cannot be detwined in a place of detention
2. Where there is no room in any available place of detention and the term of the sentence does not exceed 3 mos
3. Where he has been convicted of murder contrary to common law
4. None of the above, as a child under the age of 17 may not be sentence to imprisonment under any circumstances
1 Where the Court certified that the young person is of so unruly a character that he cannot be detwined in a place of detention
Which of the following is invariably INCORRECT?
(i) Evidence of a previous, ID is not admissable if a dock ID is possible.
(ii) Evidence of a previous out of vourt ID is admissable as an exception to the rule against hearsay
(ii)Evidence of a previous out of court ID is admissable as an exception
1. (i) only
2. (ii) only
3. (iii) only
4. None of the above statements are invariably incorrect
1 (i) only
Unless legislation provides to the contrary in relation to a specific offence, a complaint alleging a summary offence must be laid within what peris from the date of commission of the offence
1. 12 mos
2. 6 mos
3. 3 mos
4. 6 weeks
2 six mos
Henry is charged with violent disorder. On January 1st 2004, in the District Court, Henry is served with the book of evidence (documents referred to in S.4B(1) of Criminal Procedure Acr 1967) and sent forward to the Circuit Court. On 24th January 2005, Henry’s solicitor wishes to serve an alibi botice and seeks your advice as to the statutory time limits. What is the correct advice?
1. H is within the statutory time limit to serve the alibi notice.
2. Henry is outside of the statutory time limit and according to statute, leave must be refused.
3. H is outside the statuory time limit but, according to statute the court shall not refuse leave if it appears the District Court didn’t inform H of the requirements relating to the alibi notice.
4. H is outside the stautory time limit bit if it appears to the court that H’s solicitor dodn’t inform H of the requirements relating to the alibi ntoice
3 H is outside the statuory time limit but, according to statute the court shall not refuse leave if it appears the District Court didn’t inform H of the requirements relating to the alibi notice.
A sentencing judge may NOT:
1. Back-date a sentence of imprisonment
2. Postpone a sentence of imprisonment
3. Adjourn sentencing and consider imposing a suspended sentence on the adjourned date
4. Impose a sentence with a review date and consider suspending the balance of the sentence on the review date.
4 Impose a sentence with a review date and consider suspending the balance of the sentence on the review date.
A hostile witness is:
1.Unfavourable witness
2.Unpleasant witness
3.A witness who shows no desire to tell the truth at the instance of the party calling him
4.A witness who shows no desire to answer the questions of the party cross examining him
3 A witness who shows no desire to tell the truth at the instance of the party calling him
In which of the follwing circumstances may a judge permit a picture of a child accused in the prceedings currently before the court to be published or included in a broadcast?
1. The offence is of a sexual nature and it’s in the best interests of the public that that child be identified
2. The victim of the offence requests in court that the child accused be identified
3. The Prosecution make an application during the trial of a serious offence to have the child accused named and identifies in the interests of justice
4. The child is unlawfully at large, and the court is satisfied that its necessary to do so for the purposes of apprehending the child.
4 The child is unlawfully at large, and the court is satisfied that its necessary to do so for the purposes of apprehending the child.
Which of the following is correct in relation to “consultative” case stated under section 52 of the Courts (Supplemental Provisions) Act 1961?
1. The District Court judge, when asked to state a case during proceedings, will only accede where it is shown that it concerns a question of law of exceptional public importance
2. District Court judge has total discretion with respect to whether or not to accede to an application to state a case to the High Court
3. It is necessary to get the consent of the prosecution before an application to slate a case can be made to the District Court Judge
4. District Court Judge when asked to state a case during the proceedings must state the case unless he is of the view that the application is frivolous
4 District Court Judge when asked to state a case during the proceedings must state the case unless he is of the view that the application is frivolous
Where an accused is charged with a schedule’s offence persuant to the Offences against the State Act 1939 as ammended and is being sent forwards to the Circuit Court, which of the following must the DPP specifically consent to?
1. Granting of bail to the accused
2. Trial in an ordinary court
3. Granting of legal aid
4. All of the above
2 Trial in an ordinary court
At Gail’s trial for robbery, Emer purports to identify Gail as the robber and claims to know her well from choir practice in their local church. It is put to Emer that she has never attended choir practice and Emer denies this. It is also put to EMer that she had poor vision at the time of the alleged robbery, due to cataracts which have since been removed. She also denies this. The Defence apply to call evidence from Gordon, the choirmaster, in order to prove the Emer is not in the choir and from the eye surgeon who treated Emer. The trial judge must:
1. Refuse both applications as they relate to collateral matters and the defence must accept the answers given.
2. Accede to both applications because the first is relevent to the issue of identification and second is evidence of physical disability affecting reliabilty.
3. Refuse the first application and accede to the second because the first is a collateral matter and the defence must accept the answers given whereas the second is evidence of a physical disabilty affecting reliability
4. Accede to the first because it is relevant to the issue of the identification but refuse the second becasue it is a collateral matter, and the defence must accept the answers given.
2 Accede to both applications because the first is relevent to the issue of identification and second is evidence of physical disability affecting reliabilty.
Where a prisoner has been detained under section 20 of the Offences the State Act 1939 (as amended by Offences Against Act 1998) the total mount of time that he can be detained wothout charge (including any extension of detention period directed by the CHief Superintendent) without being produced in court shall not exceed
1. 24hrs
2. 48hrs
3. 72hrs
4. 102hrs
2 48hrs