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What makes a case civil rather than criminal in Ireland?

A theft prosecution and a dispute over an unpaid contract ask different legal questions. Ireland's Courts Service distinguishes prosecution of offenses from disputes over rights and obligations, while one real event can raise more than one kind of proceeding.

3–5 min

Questions you could explore

  • What is each side asking the legal system to decide?

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Law and rights

Who decides what in an Irish criminal jury trial?

The judge and jury share a courtroom while answering different questions. In the Irish jury-trial example, the judge directs on law, the jury reaches a verdict from the evidence, and sentencing after a guilty verdict belongs to the judge.

3–5 min
What makes a case civil rather than criminal in Ireland? | Speech Topic | speaking.app