N O R T H E R N I R E L A N D O R D E R S I N C O U N C I L
1977 No. 1249 (N.I. 16)
Criminal Law (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977
[26th July 1977]
Title and commencement
1. This Order may be cited as the Criminal Law (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 … Commencement …
Interpretation
2. The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954
1954 c.33
shall apply to Article 1 and the following provisions of this Order as it applies to a Measure of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Bomb hoaxes
3. — (1) A person who
— (a)
places any article in any place whatever; or
(b)
dispatches any article by post, rail or any other means whatever of sending things from one place to another,
with the intention (in either case) of inducing in some other person a belief that it is likely to explode or ignite and thereby cause personal injury or damage to property is guilty of an offence.
In this paragraph “ article ” includes substance.
(2) A person who communicates any information which he knows or believes to be false to another person with the intention of inducing in him or any other person a false belief that a bomb or other thing liable to explode or ignite is present in any place or location whatever is guilty of an offence.
(3) For a person to be guilty of an offence under paragraph (1) or (2) it is not necessary for him to have any particular person in mind as the person in whom he intends to induce the belief mentioned in that paragraph.
(4) A person guilty of an offence under this Article shall be liable — (a)
on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding
[ 6 months or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or to both ] ;
(b)
on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding
[ 7 years or to a fine or to both ] .
Art. 4 substitutes s. 16 of 1861 c. 100
Increase in penalties for certain offences
5. — Para. (1) amends s. 4 of 1861 c. 100; para. (2) amends s. 3 of 1883 c. 3
(3) Paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not have effect in relation to an offence committed before the commencement of this Order. 
