Commentary on Sections Abolition of preliminary investigation and mixed committals Section 1: Abolition of preliminary investigations
This section abolishes preliminary investigations in which witnesses can be called to give evidence on oath as a means for conducting committal proceedings by repealing Article 30 of the Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981. This section also provides that all committal proceedings in a magistrates’ court shall be by way of a preliminary inquiry provided for under the Magistrates’ Courts (Northern Ireland) Order 1981.