Law

laws are important rules of a country, used to protect people's rights, if law is broken Gardaí arrest person and courts decide if law was broken

Ignorance of Law is no Defence

important to know what ages it's legal to do things

could be arrested without knowing you could be

The Garda Síochána

Department of Justice responsible for Gardaí

11, 000 on duty and mostly unarmed

used to help in burglaries, traffic accidents

Special units set up in certain cases

Drug Unit / Forensic Science Lab

Community Alert and Neighbourhood watch help gardaí keep people safe

Courts System

laws

criminal law

civil law

criminal offences

personal cases like work accident

Courts

Children's Court

no jury cases held in private

minor crimes by children under 16

District court

23 courts, face fine of 1,270 or 2 years prison time, no jury

road traffic offences can give 6,350 in compensation

Circuit Court

8 courts, has a judge and jury

assault and burglary, can award 38,000 for civil cases

High OCurt

Criminal cases, 17 judges and jury system

cases like murder and civil cases like suing hospitals

Special Criminal Court

three judges, no jury

cases against State, IRA affiliation

Court of Criminal Appeal

new fewer than 3 judges, no jury

appeal cases from, circuit, special + central criminal

Supreme Court

Five judges if constitutional matter, no jury

Who's in court

Counsel = barristers who prosecute or defend case

Tipstaff

helps judge, walks ahead of judge with a staff

accused

person accused of committing a crime

prison officer

sits with accused

Jury

consist of 12 men or women who attend court they decide guilty or not

solicitor

meet clients to get instructions and choose barrister to represent

Registrar

assist judge, takes name and results, administrates oath

The Judge

in charge of proceedings, chooses fate if no jury, decides legal issues

Stenographer

takes note of everything said

Witness

used to help their side by using evidence, can be cross examined to test accuracy

Defence Forces

Army, Air Corps and Naval service

used ot ensure security of Irish state adn citizens

used for United Nations peacekeeping missions

army protect money transports

naval help in against drug trafficking and search and rescue

air corps involved in many searches