PSNI jurisdiction in South

edel26

Hi
A friend of mine (really is a friend) was charged with shoplifting in Northern Ireland but her address is in the south! She was arrested and charged,I paid the 300euro bail and she now has a date set to appear in court! Policeman told her heading out the door,in around about way, that if she did turn up for her court date they they had no jurisdiction to Persue her and the bail money would be kept against her not showing up!? Could this be right? She has every intention of attending but I'm just wondering why they let her go if this was the case that she could run and never be seen again?

Paulw

If she is ever stopped in NI again though, depending on the court outcome, she may be arrested and held, which would be a lot worse.

Of course, if she never goes to NI or the UK, she will probably be fine, without getting the £300 back.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

GM228

Fred Swanson wrote: »

£300 is the standard police bail for anyone from the republic who is to be prosecuted for minor offences in NI.

When the case goes to court any fine will be taken from the £300. Odds on the fine will be coincidentally £300.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but would a fine not still be outstanding as the bail money is fortified to the state and is seperate to any fines issued.

In other words you fortified your bail to the state for not showing up to court and seperately you also got a fine of X amount for whatever the charge is.

whomitconcerns

Yes, what Fred is saying is if your friend shows up to court, instead of returning the 300, if there is a fine penalty it will coincidentally turn out to be 300.

If your friend doesn't show it will be 300 plus a bench warrant plus whatever else they decide.

GM228

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Yes, what Fred is saying is if your friend shows up to court, instead of returning the 300, if there is a fine penalty it will coincidentally turn out to be 300.

If your friend doesn't show it will be 300 plus a bench warrant plus whatever else they decide.

Yes but I'm asking is the fine not on top of the lost 300 (i.e not actually taken from the 300 bond as Fred seems to suggest.)

Fred Swanson wrote: »

When the case goes to court any fine will be taken from the £300. Odds on the fine will be coincidentally £300.

My understanding was that you loose your bond and are also liable for a fine but Fred seems to suggest the fine is taken from the bond?

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

GM228

Fred Swanson wrote: »

Yep, that is what they do up there. The fine is taken from the bond lodged at the police station if you show up in court.

If you don't show, the bond is forfeited and any other penalty is on top.

Thanks for the clarification Fred, wasn't sure if your OP was in relation to court appearance or non appearance.

whomitconcerns

GM228 wrote: »

My understanding was that you loose your bond and are also liable for a fine but Fred seems to suggest the fine is taken from the bond?

That's what I said fine "taken" from bond if you show, in addition if you dont

GM228

whomitconcerns wrote: »

That's what I said fine "taken" from bond if you show, in addition if you dont

Sorry I misread your post, my bad!