Malicious Injuries Act, 1981

Right to compensation for unlawful taking of property during riot.

[New]

6.—(1) Where three or more persons who are tumultuously and riotously assembled together maliciously cause damage, the aggregate amount of which exceeds one hundred pounds, to a building or to property within the curtilage of a building and, in the course of the riot, any property is unlawfully taken from the building, the person who suffers the loss of the property taken shall be entitled to obtain compensation from the local authority in accordance with this Act.

(2) For the purpose of subsection (1), damage shall be taken to be maliciously caused only if caused by a wrongful act done intentionally without just cause or excuse or wantonly.

(3) Subsection (1) shall also have effect in relation to a ship which is within any harbour or within one mile beyond the coastal boundary of a local authority area, to property on board such ship and to the unlawful taking of such property during a riot.

(4) The right to compensation given by this section shall be limited to compensation of an amount equal to the value of the property taken and shall not extend to compensation for any loss consequential on the taking of the property and, in particular, shall not extend to compensation for the loss of the use of the property taken.