The District Court (Irish: An Chúirt Dúiche) is the lowest court in the Irish court system[1] and the main court of summary jurisdiction in Ireland.[2] It has responsibility for hearing minor criminal matters, small civil claims, liquor licensing, and certain family law applications.[3] It is also responsible for indicting the accused and sending them forward for trial at the Circuit Court and Central Criminal Court.[4]
The District Court is the lowest court in the Irish court system. ... The District Court is a court of local and limited jurisdiction. This means it can only make orders or decisions on certain types of civil and criminal cases.
The District Court is known as a court of 'local and summary jurisdiction'.
The District Court is organised on a local basis throughout the country. It deals with civil actions where the compensation claimed does not exceed €15,000. It also handles liquor licensing cases and a wide range of family law cases, including custody and maintenance of children and applications for barring orders. The District Court also deals with criminal matters such as drunk driving, speeding, assault, criminal damage and the initial hearings of serious offences to be tried in the higher criminal courts. A judge sitting alone deals with these cases. Consumers can use the small claims procedure in the District Court to recover sums up to €2,000.
The District Court Judge will send the accused forward to the Circuit Court or Central Criminal Court for trial once the book of evidence has been served and the DPP has agreed to send the case forward.