31.4 Warrant To Arrest - Criminal Justice Act 1984, Section 10(1) (As Amended By The Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009, Section 24)
Form 31.4 is a Warrant to Arrest issued under the Criminal Justice Act 1984, Section 10(1) as amended by the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009. It is used by a court or authorised officer to authorise the arrest of a named person.
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31.4 Warrant To Arrest - Criminal Justice Act 1984, Section 10(1) (As Amended By The Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009, Section 24)
Form 31.4 is a Warrant to Arrest issued under the Criminal Justice Act 1984, Section 10(1) as amended by the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009. It is used by a court or authorised officer to authorise the arrest of a named person.
Risk Radar
- The most common mistake is leaving the judge’s signature blank, which renders the warrant invalid.
- Incorrect spelling of the suspect’s name
- Missing case reference number
- Wrong statutory citation
- Signature omitted or illegible
Plain English
This is the paper that lets the police legally take someone into custody when a court decides they must be arrested. It spells out who, why and under what law the arrest can happen. You only deal with it if you are a judge, a solicitor acting for the State, or a police officer requesting the warrant.
Submission Date
- The warrant must be issued and served before the police move to arrest the person; there is no statutory filing deadline beyond that immediate need.
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
What this form is for
- • When a court has expressly ordered an arrest and a written warrant is required.
- • When police need a formal authorisation before entering a private dwelling to seize a suspect.
- • When the suspect is not already in custody and the offence carries a custodial sentence.
- • When the arrest is to be made under Section 10(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
- • When a bail order is being revoked and an immediate arrest is needed.
Use this form or another form?
| Situation | Likely form | Why it matters | Check before you continue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrest without warrant | Section 4(1) of the Criminal Justice Act | Police can act on reasonable suspicion | Verify if a warrant is truly required |
| Bail variation | Form 31.5 | Used to change bail conditions | Use only after court order |
| Search warrant | Form 31.3 | Authorises search of premises | Different legal basis |
| Extradition request | Form 31.6 | For cross‑border arrests | Separate international protocol |
Deadline or filing window
The warrant must be issued and served before the police move to arrest the person; there is no statutory filing deadline beyond that immediate need.
Before you submit
- • Full legal name and DOB of the person to be arrested
- • Accurate case reference number
- • Correct offence description and statutory citation
- • Judge’s or authorised officer’s signature and date
- • Two legible copies prepared
- • Court registry name correctly entered
- • Garda contact details included
- • Form signed in ink (if paper) or digitally certified
- • Submission logged in the court’s docket
- • Copy retained for records
How to file this form
- 1Complete the suspect details section.
- 2Enter the case number and charge details.
- 3Add the statutory authority citation.
- 4Obtain the judge’s or authorised officer’s signature.
- 5Make two copies of the completed form.
- 6Deliver one copy to the court registry.
- 7Give the second copy to the requesting Garda unit.
Known limitations
- • Only applicable to arrests under Section 10(1) of the 1984 Act.
- • Cannot be used for summary offences that do not carry custodial sentences.
- • Electronic filing may not be available in all districts.
- • Form does not include space for multiple suspects; a separate warrant is needed per person.
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✦ Open in AI EditorCurrent Form Status
Form 31.4 remains in force under the 1984 Act as amended in 2009. No major redesign has been announced, but always verify the latest version on the Courts Service website.
Agency: Courts Service of Ireland
What changed or needs a fresh check
- • Confirm the form header shows the 2009 amendment reference.
- • Check that the court registry field includes the latest district/circuit court codes.
- • Verify the signature block includes the updated title for senior police officers.
- • Ensure any electronic filing fields match the current e‑filing portal layout.
Quick Facts
Form Details
- Agency
- Courts Service of Ireland
- Category
- Other Court Forms
- Source
- Court Forms ↗
- Revision Date
- 19/10/25
Downloads
31.4 Warrant To Arrest - Criminal Justice Act 1984, Section 10(1) (As Amended By The Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009, Section 24)
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After you file
- • Confirm receipt by the court registry.
- • Obtain a stamped copy as proof of issue.
- • Notify the arresting officer(s) with the warrant reference.
- • Record the warrant number in the case file.
- • Monitor for any court orders revoking or amending the warrant.
Source and verification log
- • Form title and number taken from user input.
- • Legal basis (Criminal Justice Act 1984, Section 10(1)) inferred from form name.
- • Amendment reference (2009 Act) taken from form name.
- • Typical issuer (judge or senior police officer) inferred from standard practice.
- • Submission method (court registry, Garda) inferred from typical warrant process.
- • Not confirmed in official source: exact layout of signature block.
- • Not confirmed in official source: availability of e‑filing for this form.
Common confusion points
6 things to watch for
- 1
Mixing up Form 31.4 with the search warrant (Form 31.3).
- 2
Leaving the statutory amendment reference off the header.
- 3
Assuming a signature from a junior officer is sufficient.
- 4
Submitting only one copy instead of the required two.
- 5
Using the form for a bail variation instead of an arrest.
- 6
Failing to update the court registry name after jurisdiction changes.
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