District Court (Ireland)

The District Court (Irish: An Chúirt Dúiche) is the main court of summary jurisdiction in Ireland. It has responsibility for hearing minor criminal matters, small civil claims, liquor licensing, and certain family law applications. It is also responsible for indicting the accused and sending them forward for trial at the Circuit Court and Central Criminal Court.

The civil jurisdiction is limited to damages not exceeding €15,000; the court has no equitable jurisdiction.

The Court has the power to renew licences for the sale of intoxicating liquor and grant licences for lotteries.

The family jurisdiction of the Court includes the power to award guardianship, grant protection or barring orders, and award maintenance of up to €150 a week per child or €500 per week for a spouse.

The criminal jurisdiction is limited to summary offences - i.e. offences heard without a jury where the maximum punishment is 12 months imprisonment. Indictable offences may also be tried by the Court provided the accused, the judge and the Director of Public Prosecutions agree. In such a case the maximum penalty imposed by the judge for the indictable offence can not exceed 12 months imprisonment. Murder, treason, rape and aggravated sexual assault are crimes that can not be disposed of summarily in such a manner. Bail hearings for offences triable by both the District Court itself and the Circuit Court are heard here also with a right to appeal to the High Court for a refusal to grant bail. Most of the offences are usually minor as the more serious cases are sent to the Circuit Court and Central Criminal Court. The District Court continues to hold indictment hearings for the more senior criminal court, although since 1967, the Court no longer has any discretion whether or not to send forward the accused, as long as the DPP serves a Book of Evidence on the accused.

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