The Court of Appeal hears civil appeals from High Court decisions. The purpose of an appeal is to check whether there was an error in the decision of the High Court. The Court of Appeal does not hear the whole case again. That means the hearing is usually shorter than it was in the High Court.
Three judges hear your appeal. They receive your papers before the hearing and read them in advance, so you do not need to read out everything in court.
The judges decide the appeal only on the materials that were before the High Court. No new evidence can be introduced unless you apply before the hearing, at the directions hearing, and permission is only given in special circumstances.
Unless there are special reasons, you will appear before the Court of Appeal three times: at the directions hearing, at the callover, and at the hearing itself. At the end of the hearing, you will get a decision either on the day (called an ex tempore decision) or in writing at a later date.
The pages below set out the detailed procedure, from lodging an appeal to what happens after judgment.
- About the Court of Appeal
Find out how the Court of Appeal works in Ireland.
- Civil actions in the Court of Appeal
Find out more about how civil actions work in the Court of Appeal
- Criminal actions in the Court of Appeal
Find out how criminal actions work in the Court of Appeal
- Terms and sittings
Terms and sittings in the Court of Appeal
