Statute of Limitations, 1957

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STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS, 1957.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Part I

.

PRELIMINARY AND GENERAL.

Section

Section 1

Short title and commencement.

Section 2

General provisions as to interpretation.

Section 3

Application to the State.

Section 4

Non-application to proceedings in respect of the forfeiture of a ship.

Section 5

Saving for equitable jurisdiction to refuse relief for acquiescence or otherwise.

Section 6

Provisions as to set-off and counterclaim.

Section 7

Saving for other limitation enactments in respect of actions.

Section 8

Provisions as to actions barred and pending on the operative date.

Section 9

Repeals.

Part II.

PERIODS OF LIMITATION FOR DIFFERENT CLASSES OF ACTION.

Section 10

Part II to be subject to provisions of Part III relating to disability, acknowledgement, part payment, fraud and mistake.

Section 11

Limitation of actions of contract and tort and certain other actions.

Section 12

Limitation in case of successive conversions, and extinction of title of owner of converted goods.

Section 13

Limitation of actions to recover land.

Section 14

Accrual of right of action (present interests in land).

Section 15

Accrual of right of action (future interests in land).

Section 16

Accrual of right of action (forfeiture or breach of condition).

Section 17

Accrual of right of action (certain tenancies).

Section 18

Right of action not to accrue unless there is adverse possession.

Section 19

Cure of defective disentailing assurance.

Section 20

No right of action to be preserved by formal entry or continual claim.

Section 21

Possession of one co-parcener, etc., not to be possession of others.

Section 22

Possession of younger brother, etc., not be possession of heir.

Section 23

Administration to date back to death.

Section 24

Extinction of title to land after expiration of period limited for actions to recover land.

Section 25

Equitable estates in land, and land held on trust.

Section 26

Actions to recover settled chattels.

Section 27

Limitation of actions to recover arrears of a rentcharge.

Section 28

Limitation of actions to recover arrears of a conventional rent.

Section 29

Warrants under section 28 of the Land Act, 1933.

Section 30

Limitation of actions to recover arrears of dower.

Section 31

Limitation of actions to recover arrears of annuity charged on personal property.

Section 32

Limitation of actions by incumbrancers claiming sale of land.

Section 33

Extinction of title of mortgagee to mortgaged land after expiration of period for action claiming sale of land.

Section 34

Limitation of redemption actions (land).

Section 35

Extinction of title of mortgagor to mortgaged land after expiration of period for action to redeem land.

Section 36

Limitation of actions to recover principal money secured by a charge on land or personal property.

Section 37

Limitation of actions to recover arrears of interest on a mortgage or charge.

Section 38

Extinction of right of mortgagee or chargeant to mortgage debt at expiration of period for action to recover land or claiming sale of land.

Section 39

Extinction of right of mortgagee or chargeant to principal sum secured by mortgage or charge on personal property after expiration of period for action to recover principal sum.

Section 40

Limitation of actions in respect of certain personal rights in or over land, such as right of support, etc.

Section 41

Extinction of personal right in or over land, such as a right of support, etc., after expiration of period for action in respect of such right.

Section 42

Restriction on recovery under section 26 of the Agricultural Credit Act, 1947, of interest on chattel mortgages.

Section 43

Limitation of actions against trustees.

Section 44

Exclusion of actions against trustees in cases of fraud or retention of trust property.

Section 45

Limitation of actions to recover personal estate of deceased persons.

Section 46

Exclusion of actions against personal representatives in cases of fraud.

Part III.

EXTENSION OF LIMITATION PERIODS IN CASE OF DISABILITY, ACKNOWLEDGMENT, PART PAYMENT, FRAUD AND MISTAKE.

Chapter I.

Interpretation.

Section 47

Interpretation (Part III).

Chapter II.

Disability.

Section 48

Person under a disability.

Section 49

Extension of limitation period in case of disability.

Chapter III.

Acknowledgment.

Section 50

Meaning of “acknowledgment”.

Section 51

Fresh accrual of right of action on acknowledgment (action to recover land).

Section 52

Fresh accrual of right of action on acknowledgment (action by mortgagee to recover land).

Section 53

Fresh accrual of right of action on acknowledgment (action by incumbrancer claiming sale of land).

Section 54

Effect of acknowledgment on right of action to redeem mortgaged land in mortgagee's possession.

Section 55

Fresh accrual of right of action on acknowledgment (action in respect of personal right in or over land, such as right of support, etc.).

Section 56

Fresh accrual of right of action on acknowledgment (action to recover debt).

Section 57

Fresh accrual of right of action on acknowledgment (action claiming personal estate of deceased person).

Section 58

Formal provisions as to acknowledgment.

Section 59

Effect of acknowledgment on persons other than the maker or recipient.

Section 60

Exemption of acknowledgment from stamp duty.

Chapter IV.

Part payment.

Section 61

Meaning of “payment”.

Section 62

Fresh accrual of right of action on payment (action by mortgagee to recover land).

Section 63

Fresh accrual of right of action on payment (action by incumbrancer claiming sale of land).

Section 64

Effect of payment on right of action to redeem mortgaged land in mortgagee's possession.

Section 65

Fresh accrual of right of action on payment (action to recover debt).

Section 66

Fresh accrual of right of action on payment (action claiming personal estate of deceased person).

Section 67

Formal provisions as to payment.

Section 68

Effect of payment on persons other than the maker or recipient.

Section 69

Appropriation of payment in respect of debts.

Section 70

Endorsement of payment by creditor not to be evidence of payment.

Chapter V.

Fraud and mistake.

Section 71

Postponement of limitation period in case of fraud.

Section 72

Postponement of limitation period in case of mistake.

Part IV.

APPLICATION OF THIS ACT AND OTHER LIMITATION ENACTMENTS TO ARBITRATIONS.

Section 73

Interpretation (Part IV).

Section 74

Commencement of arbitration.

Section 75

Application of Act and other limitation enactments to arbitrations.

Section 76

Accrual of cause of action where agreement makes award thereunder a condition precedent to commencement of action.

Section 77

Power of Court to extend time where it sets aside award or orders abritration to cease to have effect.

Section 78

Application of Part IV to arbitrations under other Acts.

Section 79

Saving for other enactments relating to limitation of arbitrations.

Section 80

Arbitrations pending on the operative date.

SCHEDULE.

Enactments repealed Acts Referred to Registration of Title Act, 1942 No. 26 of 1942 Arbitration Act, 1954 No. 26 of 1954 Rent Restrictions Act, 1946 No. 4 of 1946 Tortfeasors Act, 1951 No. 1 of 1951 Mercantile Marine Act, 1955 No. 29 of 1955 Land Act, 1927 No. 19 of 1927 Land Act, 1933 No. 38 of 1933 Agricultural Credit Act, 1947 No. 14 of 1947 Adoption Act, 1952 No. 25 of 1952 Number 6 of 1957.

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS, 1957.

AN ACT TO CONSOLIDATE WITH AMENDMENTS CERTAIN ENACTMENTS RELATING TO THE LIMITATION OF ACTIONS AND ARBITRATIONS. [2nd May, 1957.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:—

PART I.

Preliminary and General.

Short title and commencement.

1.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Statute of Limitations, 1957.

General provisions as to interpretation.

2.—(1) In this Act— “the Act of 1891” means the Registration of Title Act, 1891; “action” includes any proceeding (other than a criminal proceeding) in a Court established by law; “action to recover land” includes— (a) an action claiming a declaration of title to land, (b) proceedings by a mortgagee for the delivery of possession of land by a mortgagor, (c) proceedings under section 13 of the Registration of Title Act, 1942 (No. 26 of 1942), by a person who is registered under the Act of 1891 as the owner of a charge on registered land for possession of the land; “arbitration”, “arbitration agreement” and “award” have the same meanings as in the Arbitration Act, 1954 (No. 26 of 1954); “conventional rent” means a rent payable under a lease or other contract of tenancy (whether in writing or not and whether express or implied) and includes the rent payable by a statutory tenant within the meaning of the Rent Restrictions Act, 1946 (No. 4 of 1946), but does not include a fee-farm rent payable under a grant which creates the relationship of landlord and tenant; “foreshore” means the bed and shore, below the line of high water of ordinary or medium tides, of the sea and of every tidal river and tidal estuary and of every channel, creek, and bay of the sea or of any such river or estuary; “judgment mortgage” means an affidavit of ownership registered under the Judgment Mortgage (Ireland) Act, 1850; “land” includes corporeal hereditaments and rentcharges, and an interest in the proceeds of the sale of land held upon trust for sale, but save as aforesaid does not include any incorporeal hereditament; “mortgage” includes an equitable mortgage and a judgment mortgage and “mortgagor”, “mortgagee” and cognate words shall be construed accordingly; “the operative date” means the 1st day of January, 1959; “other limitation enactment” means any enactment (other than this Act) relating to the limitation of actions; “personal estate” does not include chattels real; “personal injuries” includes any disease and any impairment of a person's physical or mental condition; “personal property” does not include chattels real; “personal representative” means the executor, original or by representation, or the administrator of a deceased person and includes, in relation to land to which the Land Purchase Acts apply, a person who, under those Acts, is, for the purposes of proceedings under those Acts, appointed to be the administrator of the personal estate of a deceased person or nominated to represent a person dead, absent or under a disability;

“registered land” means land the title to which is registered under the Act of 1891; “rentcharge” means any annuity or periodic sum of money charged upon or payable out of land, and includes— (a) any annual or periodic payment to the Irish Land Commission, including an annuity in repayment of an instalment mortgage payable into the Church Temporalities Fund, and (b) any periodic payment which was immediately before the 6th day of December, 1922, collectable under the Crown Lands Acts, 1829 to 1913, being— (i) a crown rent, or (ii) a quit rent, or (iii) a composition rent, or (iv) any other rentcharge, and (c) a fee-farm rent, whether the grant under which it arises does or does not create the relationship of landlord and tenant, but does not include— (d) a conventional rent, or (e) interest on a mortgage or charge on land, or (f) a terminable annuity payable in respect of a loan under the Housing (Gaeltacht) Acts, 1929 and 1934; “ship” includes every description of vessel used in navigation not propelled by oars; “State authority” means any authority being— (a) a Minister of State, or (b) the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, or (c) the Irish Land Commission, or (d) the Revenue Commissioners, or (e) the Attorney General. “Trustee.”

Application of Act to charges for principal sums on registered land.

Claiming through a person.

Right of action to recover land to include right to enter into possession, distrain, etc.

Possession and dispossession in the case of rentcharges.

Application to the State.

3.—(1) Save as in this Act otherwise expressly provided and without prejudice to section 7 of this Act, this Act shall apply to proceedings by or against a State authority in like manner as if that State authority were a private individual.

Non-application to proceedings in respect of the forfeiture of a ship.

4.—This Act shall not apply to any proceedings in respect of the forfeiture of a ship or of an interest in a ship under the Mercantile Marine Act, 1955 (No. 29 of 1955).

Saving for equitable jurisdiction to refuse relief for acquiescence or otherwise.

5.—Nothing in this Act shall affect any equitable jurisdiction to refuse relief on the ground of acquiescence or otherwise.

Provisions as to set-off and counterclaim.

6.—For the purposes of this Act, any claim by way of set-off or counterclaim shall be deemed to be a separate action and to have been commenced on the same date as the action in which the set-off or counterclaim is pleaded.

Saving for other limitation enactments in respect of actions.

7.—This Act shall not apply to— (a) any action for which a period of limitation is fixed by any other limitation enactment, or (b) any action to which a State authority is a party and for which, if that State authority were a private individual, a period of limitation would be fixed by any other limitation enactment.

Provisions as to actions barred and pending on the operative date.

8.—Nothing in this Act shall— (a) enable any action to be brought which was barred before the operative date by any enactment repealed by this Act, except so far as the cause of action or right of action may be revived by an acknowledgment or part payment made in accordance with

Part III

of this Act, or (b) affect any action commenced before the operative date or the title to any property which is the subject of any such action.

Repeals.

9.—The enactments mentioned in column (2) of the Schedule to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent mentioned in column (3) of that Schedule.

PART II.

Periods of Limitation for Different Classes of Action.

Part II to be subject to provisions of Part III relating to disability, acknowledgment, part payment, fraud and mistake.

10.—The subsequent provisions of this Part of this Act shall have effect subject to the provisions of

Part III

of this Act which provide for the extension of the periods of limitation in the case of disability, acknowledgment, part payment, fraud and mistake.

Actions of contract and tort and certain other actions.

Limitation of actions of contract and tort and certain other actions.

11.—(1) The following actions shall not be brought after the expiration of six years from the date on which the cause of action accrued— (a) actions founded on simple contract; (b) actions founded on quasi-contract; (c) actions to enforce a recognizance; (d) actions to enforce an award, where the arbitration agreement is not under seal or where the arbitration is under any Act other than the Arbitration Act, 1954 (No. 26 of 1954); (e) actions to recover any sum recoverable by virtue of any enactment, other than— (i) a penalty or forfeiture or sum by way of penalty or forfeiture, or (ii) a debt created by subsection (2) of section 14 or section 125 of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908 , or (iii) an amount recoverable by a tortfeasor under section 4 or 5 of the Tortfeasors Act, 1951 (No. 1 of 1951).

Limitation in case of successive conversions, and extinction of title of owner of converted goods.

12.—(1) Where— (a) any cause of action in respect of the conversion or wrongful detention of a chattel has accrued to any person, and (b) before he recovers possession of the chattel, a further conversion or wrongful detention takes place, then, subject to section 26, no action shall be brought in respect of the further conversion or wrongful detention after the expiration of six years from the accrual of the cause of action in respect of the original conversion or wrongful detention.

Actions to recover land.

Limitation of actions to recover land.

13.—(1) (a) Subject to paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection, no action shall be brought by a State authority to recover any land after the expiration of thirty years from the date on which the right of action accrued to a State authority or, if it first accrued to some person through whom a State authority claims, to that person. (b) An action to recover foreshore may be brought by a State authority at any time before the expiration of sixty years from the date on which the right of action accrued to a State authority. (c) Where any right of action to recover land, which has ceased to be foreshore but remains in the ownership of the State, accrued when the land was foreshore, the action may be brought at any time before the expiration of sixty years from the date of the accrual of the right of action, or of forty years from the date on which the land ceased to be foreshore, whichever period first expires.

Accrual of right of action (present interests in land). (i) on dispossession or discontinuance.

14.—(1) Where the person bringing an action to recover land, or some person through whom he claims, has been in possession thereof and has while entitled thereto been dispossessed or discontinued his possession, the right of action shall be deemed to have accrued on the date of the dispossession or discontinuance.

Accrual of right of action (future interests in land).

15.—(1) Subject as hereinafter in this section provided, the right of action to recover any land shall, in a case where— (i) on falling into possession of future interest. (a) the estate or interest claimed was an estate or interest in reversion or remainder or any future estate or interest, and (b) no person has taken possession of the land by virtue of the estate or interest claimed, be deemed to have accrued on the date on which the estate or interest fell into possession by the determination of the preceding estate or interest. (ii) where previous owner out of possession.

Accrual of right of action (forfeiture or breach of condition).

16.—(1) A right to recover land by virtue of a forfeiture or breach of condition shall be deemed to have accrued on the date on which the forfeiture was incurred or the condition broken.

Accrual of right of action (certain tenancies). (i) tenancy at will.

17.—(1) (a) A tenancy at will shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to be determined at the expiration of one year from the commencement thereof, unless it has previously been determined. (b) The right of action of a person entitled to land subject to a tenancy at will shall be deemed to have accrued on the date on which the tenancy is determined. (c) No mortgagor or beneficiary shall, for the purposes of this subsection, be deemed to be a tenant at will to his mortgagee or trustee. (ii) tenancy, without lease in writing, from year to year or other period.

Right of action not to accrue unless there is adverse possession.

18.—(1) No right of action to recover land shall be deemed to accrue unless the land is in the possession (in this section referred to as adverse possession) of some person in whose favour the period of limitation can run.

Cure of defective disentailing assurance.

19.—Where— (a) a person entitled in remainder under a settlement to an estate tail in any land has made an assurance thereof which fails to bar the issue in tail or the estates taking effect on the determination of the estate tail or fails to bar the said estates only, and (b) any person (other than some person entitled to possession by virtue of the settlement) is in possession of the land for a period of twelve years from the commencement of the time at which the assurance, if it had then been executed by the person entitled to the estate tail, would have operated, without the consent of any other person, to bar the issue in tail and the said estates, then, at the expiration of that period, the assurance shall operate, and be deemed always to have operated, to bar the issue in tail and the said estates.

No right of action to be preserved by formal entry or continual claim.

20.—For the purposes of this Act— (a) no person shall be deemed to have been in possession of any land by reason only of having made a formal entry thereon, (b) no continual or other claim upon or near any land shall preserve any right of action to recover the land.

Possession of one co-parcener, etc., not to be possession of others.

21.—Where any one or more of several persons entitled to any land as co-parceners, joint tenants or tenants in common have been in possession of the entirety or more than his or their undivided share or shares of such land for his or their own benefit or for the benefit of any person or persons other than the person or persons entitled to the other share or shares of such land, then, for the purposes of this Act, such possession shall not be deemed to have been the possession of such last-mentioned person or persons or any of them.

Possession of younger brother, etc., not to be possession of heir.

22.—Where a younger brother or other relation of the person entitled as heir to any land enters into possession thereof, then, for the purposes of this Act, such possession shall not be deemed to be the possession of the person entitled as heir.

Administration to date back to death.

23.—For the purposes of the provisions of this Act relating to actions for the recovery of land, an administrator of the estate of a deceased person shall be deemed to claim as if there had been no interval of time between the date of the death of the deceased person and the grant of letters of administration.

Extinction of title to land after expiration of period limited for actions to recover land.

24.—Subject to section 25 of this Act and to section 52 of the Act of 1891, at the expiration of the period fixed by this Act for any person to bring an action to recover land, the title of that person to the land shall be extinguished.

Equitable estates in land, and land held on trust.

25.—(1) Subject to section 44 of this Act, the provisions of this Act shall apply to equitable estates in land, including interests in the proceeds of the sale of land held upon trust for sale, in like manner as they apply to legal estates in land, and accordingly a right of action to recover the land shall, for the purposes of this Act but not otherwise, be deemed to accrue to a person entitled in possession to an equitable estate in land in the like manner and like circumstances and on the same date as it would accrue if his estate were a legal estate in the land.

Actions to recover settled chattels.

Actions to recover settled chattels.

26.—(1) Where any chattels are held upon trust, including a trust for sale, and the period fixed by this Act has expired for the bringing of an action to recover the chattels by the trustees, the title of the trustees shall not be extinguished if and so long as the right of action of any person beneficially entitled to the chattels either has not accrued or has not been barred by this Act, but, if and when such right of action has been so barred, the title of the trustees shall be extinguished.

Actions to recover arrears of rentcharges, conventional rents, dower and annuities charged on personal property.

Limitation of actions to recover arrears of a rentcharge.

27.—(1) No action shall be brought or distress made to recover arrears of a rentcharge or damages in respect thereof after the expiration of six years from the date on which the arrears became due.

Limitation of actions to recover arrears of a conventional rent.

28.—No action shall be brought or distress made to recover arrears of a conventional rent or damages in respect thereof after the expiration of six years from the date on which the arrears became due.

Warrants under section 28 of the Land Act, 1933.

29.—(1) The Irish Land Commission shall not issue a warrant under section 28 of the Land Act, 1933 (No. 38 of 1933), in respect of any moneys which became due and payable to them more than six years before the date of the warrant.

Limitation of actions to recover arrears of dower.

30.—No action shall be brought or distress made to recover arrears of dower or damages in respect thereof after the expiration of six years from the date on which the arrears became due.

Limitation of actions to recover arrears of annuity charged on personal property.

31.—No action shall be brought to recover arrears of an annuity charged on personal property or damages in respect thereof after the expiration of six years from the date on which the arrears became due.

Actions in respect of mortgages and charges.

Limitation of actions by incumbrancers claiming sale of land.

32.—(1) No action shall be brought by a State authority claiming the sale of land which is subject to a mortgage or charge after the expiration of thirty years from the date on which the right of action accrued to a State authority or, if it first accrued to some person through whom a State authority claims, to that person.

Extinction of title of mortgagee to mortgaged land after expiration of period for action claiming sale of land.

33.—At the expiration of the period fixed by this Act for a mortgagee to bring an action claiming sale of the mortgaged land, the title of the mortgagee to the land shall be extinguished.

Limitation of redemption actions (land).

34.—(1) (a) Where a mortgagee of land has been in possession of any of the mortgaged land for a period of twelve years, no action to redeem the land of which the mortgagee has been so in possession shall thereafter be brought by the mortgagor or any person claiming through him. (b) Paragraph (a) of this subsection does not apply in respect of a Welsh mortgage.

Extinction of title of mortgagor to mortgaged land after expiration of period for action to redeem land.

35.—Subject to section 52 of the Act of 1891, at the expiration of the period fixed by this Act for a mortgagor to bring an action to redeem land subject to a mortgage, the title of the mortgagor to the land shall be extinguished.

Limitation of actions to recover principal money secured by a charge on land or personal property.

36.—(1) (a) No action shall be brought to recover any principal sum of money secured by a mortgage or charge on land or personal property (other than a ship) after the expiration of twelve years from the date when the right to receive the money accrued. (b) In its application to— (i) a mortgage, interest on which is payable into the Church Temporalities Fund, or (ii) a charge on land under section 31 of the Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1881 , or (iii) a charge on land under the Housing (Gaeltacht) Acts, 1929 and 1934, paragraph (a) of this subsection shall have effect as if for the words “twelve years” there were substituted “thirty years”.

Limitation of actions to recover arrears of interest on a mortgage or charge.

37.—(1) No action shall be brought to recover arrears of interest payable in respect of any principal sum of money secured by a mortgage or charge on land or personal property (other than a ship) or to recover damages in respect of such arrears after the expiration of six years from the date on which the interest became due.

Extinction of right of mortgagee or chargeant to mortgage debt at expiration of period for action to recover land or claiming sale of land.

38.—At the expiration of the period fixed by this Act for a mortgagee of land to bring an action to recover the land or for a person claiming as mortgagee or chargeant to bring an action claiming sale of the land, the right of the mortgagee or such person to the principal sum and interest secured by the mortgage or charge shall be extinguished.

Extinction of right of mortgage or chargeant to principal sum secured by mortgage or charge on personal property after expiration of period for action to recover principal sum.

39.—At the expiration of the period fixed by this Act for a mortgagee or chargeant to bring an action to recover a principal sum of money secured by a mortgage or charge on personal property (other than a ship), the right of the mortgagee or chargeant to the principal sum and interest shall be extinguished.

Limitation of actions in respect of certain personal rights in or over land, such as right of support, etc.

40.—An action in respect of a right in the nature of a lien for money's worth in or over land for a limited period not exceeding life, such as a right of support or a right of residence, not being an exclusive right of residence in or on a specified part of the land, shall not be brought after the expiration of twelve years from the date on which the right of action accrued.

Extinction of personal right in or over land, such as right of support, etc., after expiration of period for action in respect of such right.

41.—At the expiration of the period fixed by this Act for any person to bring an action in respect of a right in the nature of a lien for money's worth in or over land for a limited period not exceeding life, such as a right of support or a right of residence, not being an exclusive right of residence in or on a specified part of the land, the said right shall be extinguished.

Restriction on recovery under section 26 of the Agricultural Credit Act, 1947, of interest on chattel mortgages.

42.—The sum in respect of interest due on foot of a chattel mortgage (within the meaning of the Agricultural Credit Act, 1947 (No. 14 of 1947)) which may be certified in an order under section 26 of that Act shall not include any interest which accrued due more than six years before the date of the order.

Actions in respect of trust property.

Limitation of actions against trustees.

43.—(1) (a) Subject to section 44 of this Act, an action to recover money or other property or in respect of any breach of trust, not being an action for which a period of limitation is fixed by any other provision of this Act, shall not be brought against a trustee or any person claiming through him after the expiration of six years from the date on which the right of action accrued. (b) For the purposes of paragraph (a) of this subsection, a right of action shall be deemed not to have accrued to a beneficiary entitled to a future interest in trust property until the interest falls into possession.

Exclusion of actions against trustees in cases of fraud or retention of trust property.

44.—No period of limitation fixed by this Act shall apply to an action against a trustee or any person claiming through him where— (a) the claim is founded on any fraud or fraudulent breach of trust to which the trustee was party or privy, or (b) the claim is to recover trust property or the proceeds thereof still retained by the trustee or previously received by the trustee and converted to his own use.

Actions in respect of the estates of deceased persons.

Limitation of actions to recover personal estate of deceased persons.

45.—(1) Subject to section 46 of this Act, no action in respect of any claim to the personal estate of a deceased person or to any share or interest in such estate, whether under a will or on intestacy, shall be brought after the expiration of twelve years from the date when the right to receive the share or interest accrued.

Exclusion of actions against personal representatives in cases of fraud.

46.—No period of limitation fixed by this Act shall apply to an action against a personal representative or any person claiming through him where the claim is founded on any fraud to which the personal representative was party or privy.

PART III.

Extension of Limitation Periods in case of Disability, Acknowledgement, Part Payment, Fraud and Mistake.

Chapter I.

Interpretation.

Interpretation (Part III).

47.—In this Part of this Act— (a) “debt” includes any liquidated pecuniary claim; “statute-barred debt” means a debt in respect of which the period fixed by this Act for the bringing of an action to recover it has expired; “successor” means— (i) in relation to a mortgagee—his personal representatives and any other person on whom the rights under the mortgage devolve, whether on death or bankruptcy or the disposition of the property or the determination of a limited estate or interest in settled property or otherwise, (ii) in relation to a person liable in respect of a debt—his personal representatives and any other person on whom the liability in respect of the debt devolves, whether on death or bankruptcy or the disposition of the property or the determination of a limited estate or interest in settled property or otherwise; (b) references to a right of action shall include references to— (i) a cause of action, (ii) a right to receive money secured by a mortgage or charge on any property or to recover proceeds of the sale of land, (iii) a right to receive a share or interest in the personal estate of a deceased person; (c) references to the date of the accrual of a right of action shall— (i) in the case of an action for an account—be construed as references to the date on which the matter arose in respect of which an account is claimed, (ii) in the case of an action upon a judgment—be construed as references to the date on which the judgment became enforceable, (iii) in the case of an action upon a judgment mortgage—be construed as references to the date on which the judgment became enforceable and not to the date on which it was registered as a mortgage, (iv) in the case of an action to recover arrears of a rentcharge, a conventional rent, dower or interest or damages in respect thereof—be construed as references to the date on which the arrears became due; (d) references to a person in possession of land— (i) shall, in the case of a rentcharge, be construed as including references to a person who is in possession of the land charged, but does not pay the rentcharge, and (ii) shall, in the case of land (including a rentcharge) held under a lease in writing reserving a yearly conventional rent of not less than twenty shillings, be construed as including references to a person who, wrongfully claiming to be entitled to the land in reversion immediately expectant on the determination of the lease, is in receipt of the conventional rent; (e) references to a debt— (i) shall, in the case of a rentcharge or of a conventional rent, be construed as references to a gale of the rentcharge or of the conventional rent,

(ii) shall, in the case of interest, be construed as references to an instalment of the interest; (f) references to a mortgagee who is by virtue of the mortgage in possession of any mortgaged land shall include references to a mortgagee who has obtained possession of the mortgaged land by virtue of an order of a Court.

Chapter II.

Disability.

Person under a disability.

48.—(1) For the purposes of this Act, a person shall be under a disability while— (a) he is an infant, or (b) he is of unsound mind, or (c) he is a convict subject to the operation of the Forfeiture Act, 1870, in whose case no administrator or curator has been appointed under that Act.

Extension of limitation period in case of disability.

49.—(1) (a) If, on the date when any right of action accrued for which a period of limitation is fixed by this Act, the person to whom it accrued was under a disability, the action may, subject to the subsequent provisions of this section, be brought at any time before the expiration of six years from the date when the person ceased to be under a disability or died, whichever event first occurred, notwithstanding that the period of limitation has expired. (b) Paragraph (a) of this subsection shall not affect any case where the right of action first accrued to some person (not under a disability) through whom the person under a disability claims. (c) Where a right of action which has accrued to a person under a disability accrues, on the death of that person while still under a disability, to another person under a disability, no further extension of time shall be allowed by reason of the disability of the second person. (d) None of the following actions— (i) an action to recover land or money charged on land, (ii) an action by an incumbrancer claiming sale of land, (iii) an action in respect of a right in the nature of a lien for money's worth in or over land for a limited period not exceeding life, such as a right of support or a right of residence, not being an exclusive right of residence in or on a specified part of the land, shall be brought by virtue of paragraph (a) of this subsection by any person after the expiration of thirty years from the date on which the right of action accrued to that person or to some person through whom he claims. (e) This section shall not apply to an action to recover a penalty or forfeiture, or a sum by way of penalty or forfeiture, recoverable by virtue of any enactment, except where the action is brought by the party grieved.

Chapter III.

Acknowledgment.

Meaning of “acknowledgment”.

50.—In this Chapter, “acknowledgment” means an acknowledgment, under section 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 or 57 of this Act, made in accordance with section 58 of this Act.

Fresh accrual of right of action on acknowledgment (action to recover land).

51.—(1) Where— (a) there has accrued to any person (other than a mortgagee) any right of action to recover land, and (b) the person in possession of the land acknowledges the title of the person to whom the right of action has accrued, the right of action shall be deemed to have accrued on and not before the date of the acknowledgment.

Fresh accrual of right of action on acknowledgment (action by mortgagee to recover land).

52.—Where— (a) the right of a mortgagee of land to bring an action to recover the land has accrued, and (b) either— (i) the person in possession of the land acknowledges the mortgagee's title to the land, or (ii) the person in possession of the land or the person liable for the mortgage debt acknowledges the debt, the right of action shall be deemed to have accrued on and not before the date of the acknowledgment.

Fresh accrual of right of action on acknowledgment (action by incumbrancer claiming sale of land).

53.—Where— (a) the right of an incumbrancer of land to bring an action claiming sale of the land has accrued, and (b) the person in possession of the land or the person liable for the debt secured by the incumbrance acknowledges the debt, the right of action shall be deemed to have accrued on and not before the date of the acknowledgment.

Effect of acknowledgment on right of action to redeem mortgaged land in mortgagee's possession.

54.—Where— (a) a mortgagee is by virtue of the mortgage in possession of any mortgaged land, and (b) the mortgagee acknowledges the title of the mortgagor or his equity of redemption, an action to redeem the land in the mortgagee's possession may be brought at any time before the expiration of twelve years from the date of the acknowledgment.

Fresh accrual of right of action on acknowledgment (action in respect of personal right in or over land, such as right of support, etc.).

55.—Where— (a) there has accrued a right of action in respect of a right in the nature of a lien for money's worth in or over land for a limited period not exceeding life, such as a right of support or a right of residence, not being an exclusive right of residence in or on a specified part of the land, and (b) the person in possession of the land acknowledges the right hereinbefore secondly mentioned, the right of action shall be deemed to have accrued on and not before the date of the acknowledgment.

Fresh accrual of right of action on acknowledgment (action to recover debt).

56.—(1) Where— (a) any right of action has accrued to recover any debt, and (b) the person liable therefor acknowledges the debt, the right of action shall be deemed to have accrued on and not before the date of the acknowledgment.

Fresh accrual of right of action on acknowledgment (action claiming personal estate of deceased person).

57.—Where— (a) any right of action has accrued to recover any claim to the personal estate of a deceased person or to any share or interest therein, and (b) the person accountable therefor acknowledges the claim, the right of action shall be deemed to have accrued on and not before the date of the acknowledgment.

Formal provisions as to acknowledgment.

58.—(1) Every acknowledgment shall be in writing and signed by the person making the acknowledgment.

Effect of acknowledgment on persons other than the maker or recipient.

59.—(1) An acknowledgment of title to any land by any person in possession thereof shall bind all other persons in possession during the ensuing period of limitation.

Exemption of acknowledgment from stamp duty.

60.—No acknowledgment shall be deemed to be an agreement within the meaning of the Stamp Act, 1891.

Chapter IV.

Part payment.

Meaning of “payment”.

61.—In this Chapter, “payment” means a payment made, under section 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 or 66 of this Act, in accordance with section 67 of this Act.

Fresh accrual of right of action on payment (action by mortgagee to recover land).

62.—Where— (a) the right of a mortgagee of land to bring an action to recover the land has accrued, and (b) the person in possession of the land or the person liable for the mortgage debt makes any payment in respect thereof, whether of principal or interest, the right of action shall be deemed to have accrued on and not before the date of the payment.

Fresh accrual of right of action on payment (action by incumbrancer claiming sale of land).

63.—Where— (a) the right of an incumbrancer of land to bring an action claiming sale of the land has accrued, and (b) the person in possession of the land or the person liable for the debt secured by the incumbrance makes any payment in respect thereof, whether of principal or interest, the right of action shall be deemed to have accrued on and not before the date of the payment.

Effect of payment on right of action to redeem mortgaged land in mortgagee's possession.

64.—Where— (a) a mortgagee is by virtue of the mortgage in possession of any mortgaged land, and (b) the mortgagee receives any payment from the mortgagor in respect of the principal or interest of the mortgage debt, an action to redeem the land in the mortgagee's possession may be brought at any time before the expiration of twelve years from the date of the payment.

Fresh accrual of right of action on payment (action to recover debt).

65.—(1) Where— (a) any right of action has accrued to recover any debt, and (b) the person liable therefor makes any payment in respect thereof, the right of action shall be deemed to have accrued on and not before the date of the payment.

Fresh accrual of right of action on payment (action claiming personal estate of deceased person).

66.—Where— (a) any right of action has accrued to recover any claim to the personal estate of a deceased person or to any share or interest therein, and (b) the person accountable therefor makes any payment in respect thereof, the right of action shall be deemed to have accrued on and not before the date of the payment.

Formal provisions as to payment.

67.—A payment under section 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 or 66 of this Act— (a) may be made by the agent of the person by whom it is required to be made under whichever of those sections is applicable, (b) shall be made to the person or the agent of the person in respect of whose claim the payment is being made.

Effect of payment on persons other than the maker or recipient.

68.—(1) A payment in respect of a mortgage debt by the mortgagor or any person in possession of the mortgaged property shall, so far as any right of the mortgagee to recover the property is concerned, bind all persons in possession of the mortgaged property during the ensuing period of limitation.

Appropriation of payment in respect of debts.

69.—(1) Where— (a) there exists a number of debts, and (b) the person liable therefor (in this section referred to as the debtor) makes any payment, whether on account or generally, to the person to whom he is liable (in this section referred to as the creditor), and (c) neither the debtor nor the creditor appropriates the sum paid to any particular debt or debts, the following provisions shall have effect:— (i) if some of or all the debts are not statute-barred debts, the payment shall, for the purposes of this Chapter, unless the circumstances in which it was made indicate otherwise, be deemed to be appropriated pari passu in respect of each of the debts which are not statute-barred debts; (ii) if all the debts are statute-barred debts, the payment shall, for the purposes of this Chapter, unless the circumstances in which it was made indicate otherwise, be deemed to be appropriated pari passu in respect of each of the debts.

Endorsement of payment by creditor not to be evidence of payment.

70.—No endorsement or memorandum of any payment written upon any bill of exchange or promissory note by or on behalf of the party to whom such payment is made shall be deemed to be evidence of such payment for the purposes of this Chapter.

Chapter V.

Fraud and mistake.

Postponement of limitation period in case of fraud.

71.—(1) Where, in the case of an action for which a period of limitation is fixed by this Act, either— (a) the action is based on the fraud of the defendant or his agent or of any person through whom he claims or his agent, or (b) the right of action is concealed by the fraud of any such person, the period of limitation shall not begin to run until the plaintiff has discovered the fraud or could with reasonable diligence have discovered it.

Postponement of limitation period in case of mistake.

72.—(1) Where, in the case of any action for which a period of limitation is fixed by this Act, the action is for relief from the consequences of mistake, the period of limitation shall not begin to run until the plaintiff has discovered the mistake or could with reasonable diligence have discovered it.

PART IV.

Application of this Act and other Limitation Enactments to Arbitrations.

Interpretation (Part IV).

73.—In this Part of this Act— “the Court” means the High Court.

Commencement of arbitration.

74.—(1) For the purposes of this Act and of any other limitation enactment, an arbitration shall be deemed to be commenced when one party to the arbitration agreement serves on the other party or parties a written notice requiring him or them to appoint or concur in appointing an arbitrator or, where the arbitration agreement provides that the reference shall be to a person named or designated in the agreement, requiring him or them to submit the dispute to the person so named or designated.

Application of Act and other limitation enactments to arbitrations.

75.—This Act and any other limitation enactment shall apply to arbitrations as they apply to actions in the Court.

Accrual of cause of action where agreement makes award thereunder a condition precedent to commencement of action.

76.—Notwithstanding any term in an arbitration agreement to the effect that no cause of action shall accrue in respect of any matter required by the agreement to be referred until an award is made under the agreement, the cause of action shall, for the purposes of this Act and of any other limitation enactment (whether in their application to arbitrations or to other proceedings), be deemed to have accrued in respect of any such matter at the time when it would have accrued but for that term in the agreement.

Power of Court to extend time where it sets aside award or orders arbitration to cease to have effect.

77.—Where the Court orders that an award be set aside or orders, after the commencement of an arbitration, that the arbitration shall cease to have effect with respect to the dispute referred, the Court may further order that the period between the commencement of the arbitration and the date of the order of the Court shall be excluded in computing the time fixed by this Act or any other limitation enactment for the commencement of proceedings (including arbitration) with respect to the dispute referred.

Application of Part IV to arbitrations under other Acts.

78.—This Part of this Act shall apply to an arbitration under an Act as well as to an arbitration pursuant to an arbitration agreement, and section 74 of this Act shall have effect, in relation to an arbitration under an Act, as if, for the references to the arbitration agreement, there were substituted references to such of the provisions of the Act or of any order, scheme, rules, regulations or bye-laws made thereunder as relate to the arbitration.

Saving for other enactments relating to limitation of arbitrations.

79.—This Act shall not apply to— (a) any arbitration for which a period of limitation is fixed by any other enactment, or (b) any arbitration to which a State authority is a party and for which, if that State authority were a private individual, a period of limitation would be fixed by any other enactment.

Arbitrations pending on the operative date.

80.—Nothing in this Act shall effect an arbitration commenced before the operative date or the title to any property which is the subject of any such arbitration.

SCHEDULE.

Enactments Repealed.

Section 9

.

Part I.

Acts of the Parliament of Ireland.

Session and Chapter.

Title.

Extent of Repeal.

(1)

(2)

An Act for the amendment of the law and the better advancement of justice. (1707).

Section 17, so far as unrepealed.

8 Geo. 1. c.4 (Ir.).

An Act for the more effectual quieting of possessions, and preventing vexatious suits at law. (1721).

The whole Act, so far as unrepealed.

Part II.

Acts of the Parliament of the late United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Session and Chapter.

Short Title or (if none) Title.

Extent of Repeal.

(1)

(2)

The Crown Claims Limitation (Ireland) Act, 1808.

The whole Act.

9 Geo. 4. c. 14.

The Statute of Frauds Amendment Act, 1828 .

Sections 1, 3, 4, so far as unrepealed, and 8.

3 & 4 Will. 4. c. 27.

The Real Property Limitation Act, 1833.

The whole Act, so far as unrepealed.

7 Will. 4 & 1 Vic. c. 28.

The Real Property Limitation Act, 1837.

The whole Act.

3 & 4 Vic. c. 105.

The Debtors (Ireland) Act, 1840.

Sections 32 to 36, so far as unrepealed.

5 & 6 Vic. c. 97.

The Limitation of Actions and Costs Act, 1842.

Section 5.

6 & 7 Vic. c. 54.

The Limitation of Actions Act, 1843.

The whole Act, so far as unrepealed.

7 & 8 Vic. c. 27.

An Act the title of which begins with the words—“An Act to explain and amend an Act of the last Session of Parliament intituled an Act for extending to Ireland”—and ends with the words—“and to explain and amend the said Act”. (1844).

The whole Act, so far as unrepealed.

14 & 15 Vic. c. 93.

The Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851 .

Paragraph 4 of section 10, save in so far as it relates to summary proceedings of a criminal nature in the District Court.

16 & 17 Vic. c. 113.

The Common Law Procedure Amendment Act (Ireland), 1853.

Sections 20 to 27.

19 & 20 Vic. c. 97.

The Mercantile Law Amendment Act, 1856.

Sections 9 to 14.

22 Vic. c. 14.

The Manor Courts Abolition (Ireland) Act, 1859.

The whole Act.

23 & 24 Vic. c. 38.

The Law of Property Amendment Act, 1860 .

Section 13.

33 & 34 Vic. c. 46.

The Landlord and Tenant (Ireland) Act, 1870 .

In section 50, the words “No arrears of any annuity charged on land in pursuance of this Act shall be recoverable after the expiration of two years from the date at which the sum in arrear became due;”.

37 & 38 Vic. c. 57.

The Real Property Limitation Act, 1874.

The whole Act.

39 & 40 Vic. c. 37.

The Nullum Tempus (Ireland) Act, 1876.

The whole Act.

40 & 41 Vic. c. 57.

The Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Ireland), 1877 .

Subsection (2) of section 28.

47 & 48 Vic. c. 71.

The Intestates Estates Act, 1884.

In section 3, the words “within the same time and”.

51 & 52 Vic. c. 59.

The Trustee Act, 1888.

The whole Act, so far as unrepealed.

6 Edw. 7. c. 28.

The Crown Lands Act, 1906.

Section 9.

Part III.

Acts of the Oireachtas of Saorstát Éireann.

Number and Year.

Short Title.

Extent of Repeal.

(1)

(2)

The Finance Act, 1924 .

Subsection (2) of section 38, to the extent to which it is inconsistent with this Act.

No. 36 of 1933.

The Moneylenders Act, 1933 .

In paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section 19, the word “and” at the end of the paragraph; paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section 19.

Part IV.

Acts of the Oireachtas.

Number and Year.

Short Title.

Extent of Repeal.

(1)

(2)

The Land Act, 1939 .

Section 6, to the extent to which it is inconsistent with this Act.

No. 18 of 1954.

The Defence Act, 1954 .

Section 311, to the extent to which it is inconsistent with this Act.

No. 26 of 1954.

The Arbitration Act, 1954 .

In subsection (1) of section 2, the definition of the expression “the statutes of limitation”; in subsection (1) of section 3, the words “and for the purpose of the statutes of limitation as applying to arbitrations”; sections 42 to 44.

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