Criminal claims in the District Court
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). A person is brought before the court either by way of a Summons or Charge Sheet.
A summons is a legal document which outlines details of the offence a defendant is alleged to have committed. It requires the defendant to appear in a specific court on a specific date and time. A summons may be issued by different bodies including An Garda Síochána, other Government agencies, An Post, and county councils.
A charge sheet is a document produced by An Garda Síochána containing details of the offence with which a defendant has been arrested and charged. A person enters a station bail bond before being released from the Garda station. This requires the defendant to appear in a specific court on a specific date and time.
