The term ‘criminal proceedings’ is understood to cover all stages of the proceedings, from the moment a person is suspected or accused of having committed a criminal offence until the decision on the final determination of whether that person committed the criminal offence concerned has become definitive.
Tuigtear go gcumhdaíonn an téarma “imeachtaí coiriúla” gach céim de na himeachtaí, ón tráth a bhfuil drochamhras ann go ndearna duine cion coiriúil nó ina ndéantar duine a chúisiú faoi chion coiriúil a bheith déanta aige nó aici go dtí go ndéanfar an cinneadh deiridh cinntitheach cibé acu a rinne nó nach ndearna an duine sin an cion coiriúil lena mbaineann.