Solicitor for Dublin District Court

Located at the Criminal Courts of Justice, Dublin District Court deals with matters, such as; enquiries relating to outstanding bench warrants, court dates, court results, bail applications / approval of sureties, lodgement of appeal, legal aid, applications for copy orders and police property applications are dealt with on a daily basis.

Administrative back up is provided to the court by way of issuing remand /committal / trial / extradition and bench warrants. Appeals are processed and legal aid claims are certified for payment.

​All criminal prosecutions are initiated in the District Court with the exception of certain offences dealt with by the Special Criminal Court (generally offences against the State). All offences fall into one of three categories:

1. Summary: an offence which can be dealt with by a judge sitting without a jury.  Most road traffic offences (such as those relating to speeding, parking and insurance) and public order offences are always dealt with in the District Court.​
2. Indictable: an offence which must generally be tried before a judge and a jury. Some indictable offences can never be dealt with in the District Court – e.g. murder and rape.  These are commenced in the District Court but are sent forward to a higher court for trial/sentence. Other indictable offences can be dealt with in the District Court provided certain procedures are followed.
3. Hybrid: an offence which can be dealt with either in the District Court (summarily) or in a higher court (on indictment).  The legislation will state the difference punishments on summary conviction and on indictment.​

District Courts deal with the following types of procedural matter, on a daily basis:

• garda applications for warrants of arrest or search
• applications under the Police (Property) Act, 1897
• applications for Free Legal Aid
• bail applications / approval of sureties
• extensions of time to appeal, bail applications for the purposes of appeal and lodgement of appeal papers.
• breach of community service orders
• breach of probation
• sending forward for trial of indictable crimes and offences and hearing on summary charge ancillary to such crimes and offences

Some types of offences dealt with in Dublin District Court

Traffic offences:

• Dangerous driving
• Careless driving
• Drink driving
• Drug driving
• Dangerous driving causing death
• Careless driving causing death
• Driving without insurance
• Dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm
  

Drugs offences:

• Possession of controlled drugs
• Grow-houses - growing cannabis plants / opium poppies
• Possession for sale or supply
• Possession of drugs at a music festival
• Forged or fraudulently altered prescriptions
• Helping others commit and offence

Other serious criminal offences:

• Rape 
• Section 4 rape
• Sexual assault
• Statutory rape
• Murder
• Manslaughter
• Aggravated sexual assault
• Fraud offences​
• Theft offences