Children Act, 1997

Weight of hearsay evidence.

24.—(1) In estimating the weight, if any, to be attached to any statement admitted in evidence pursuant to section 23 , regard shall be had to all the circumstances from which any inference can reasonably be drawn as to its accuracy or otherwise.

(2) Regard may be had, in particular, as to whether—

(a) the original statement was made contemporaneously with the occurrence or existence of the matters stated,

(b) the evidence involves multiple hearsay,

(c) any person involved has any motive to conceal or misrepresent matters,

(d) the original statement was an edited account or was made in collaboration with another for a particular purpose, and

(e) the circumstances in which the evidence is adduced as hearsay are such as to suggest an attempt to prevent proper evaluation of its weight.