Circuit Court

The Circuit Court is the second tier of the Irish courts system.

It is a court of local and limited jurisdiction – this means it is restricted as to which cases it can decide in both civil and criminal matters. The types of cases over which the Court has jurisdiction, or power, are set out below.

The country is divided into 8 circuits for the purposes of the Circuit Court, which comprises the President of the Court and up to 45 ordinary judges. One Circuit Judge is assigned to each circuit, except in Dublin, where 10 judges may be assigned, and Cork, where there is provision for 3 judges.

Local Jurisdiction

A Circuit Court can only hear a case that has been commenced in the correct county.

The case must be brought, heard and decided in the county:

• In proceedings based on tort (for example, personal injuries actions), where the tort is alleged to have been committed or where the defendant or one of the defendants ordinarily resides or carries on any profession, business or occupation;
• In proceedings based on contract, where the contract was made or where the defendant or one of the defendants ordinarily resides or carries on any profession, business or occupation;
• In proceedings to eject a person from lands or property, where the lands or property in question are located;
• In family proceedings, where the applicant resides;
• Under the probate jurisdiction and for administration of estates of deceased persons, where the testator or intestate at the time of his death had a fixed place of abode;
• Under the lunacy jurisdiction, where the person of, or alleged to be of, unsound mind ordinarily resides.

Limited Jurisdiction

Civil cases in the Circuit Court are tried by a judge sitting without a jury.

The Circuit Court is restricted to hearing cases where the damages or compensation sought do not exceed a certain amount.

The Circuit Court has jurisdiction, which means it can hear and decide cases:

• In actions in contract and tort where the claim does not exceed €75,000 (€60,000 for personal injury actions)
• In actions for defamation where the claim does not exceed €75,000
• In probate matters and suits for the administration of estates, where the market value of the real estate does not exceed €3,000,000
• In equity suits, where the market value of the land does not exceed €3,000,000
• In ejectment actions or applications for new tenancies (fixing of rent, etc.,) where the market value of the property does not exceed €3,000,000
• In actions founded on hire-purchase and credit-sale agreements, where the hire-purchase price of the goods or the amount of the claim does not exceed €75,000
• In family law proceedings (including judicial separation, divorce, nullity and appeals from the District Court) where the market value of the property exceeds €3,000,000, the parties may opt to transfer the case to the High Court;
• In all cases of application for new liquor on-licence (i.e., licences for sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises) and has appellate jurisdiction from decisions of arbitrators in disputes in relation to Ground Rents under the Landlord and Tenant legislation
• In respect of applications under the former Workmen's Compensation Code, i.e., in cases where the right to compensation arose prior to 1st May 1967
• In appeals from the District Court in both civil and criminal matters. The appeal takes the form of a re-hearing and the decision of the Circuit Court is final and not appealable

In criminal matters, the Circuit Court Judge sits with a jury of 12. A verdict need not be unanimous in a case where there are not fewer than 11 jurors if 10 of them agree on a verdict after considering the case for a reasonable time (not less than 2 hours).

Local Jurisdiction

The criminal jurisdiction is exercised by the judge of the Circuit in which:

• The offence was committed or
• The defendant resides or carries on business, or
• The defendant was arrested

However, the Circuit Judge may transfer a criminal trial from one part of their Circuit to another.

On application by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) or the accused, the Circuit Judge may, if satisfied that it would be manifestly unjust not to do so, transfer the trial from the Circuit Court sitting outside of the Dublin Circuit to the Dublin Circuit Court.

Limited Jurisdiction

The Constitution specifies that all non-minor offences must, in general, involve a trial with a jury.

All minor criminal cases are heard in the District Court summarily (i.e., without a jury). The Circuit Court has the jurisdiction to hear all non-minor offences, except murder, rape, aggravated sexual assault, treason, piracy and related offences.

For more information about the Circuit Court, including information about lodging a case, you should contact your local Circuit Court office.

You can also book an appointment online to attend some court offices. This service is for non-urgent matters only.

For more general queries, you can contact: