Garda Síochána Act 2005
Legal aid for members charged with certain offences. |
49.— (1) The Minister may contribute to the legal costs of a member of the Garda Síochána who is charged with a criminal offence if— | |
(a) any of the acts that are alleged to constitute the offence was directly related to the performance of the member’s functions, | ||
(b) the Minister is of the opinion that the member’s financial circumstances are such that those costs would result in undue hardship, and | ||
(c) the contribution does not exceed the sum that would be payable if a legal aid certificate were granted in respect of the applicable court proceedings. | ||
(2) In this section— | ||
“legal aid certificate” has the meaning given by section 9(2) of the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 ; | ||
“legal costs” means any fees, costs or other expenses properly incurred by a member referred to in subsection (1) in preparing and conducting— | ||
(a) the member’s defence to the offence charged, and | ||
(b) if applicable, the member’s appeal or stated case in relation to that offence. |