National Archives Act, 1986

Removal of archives, etc.

18.—(1) Except as provided by law—

(a) a person shall not remove archives from the National Archives;

(b) a person shall not remove from the Irish Land Commission records transferred thereto under the Irish Church Act Amendment Act, 1881 ;

(c) a person shall not remove archives, which at the commencement of section 23 are held elsewhere than in the Public Record Office of Ireland under an Act mentioned in subsection (1) of that section, from the place in which they are so held at such commencement.

(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) or who conceals or damages archives or who, without the consent of the Director, removes or destroys such archives shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable—

(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £800 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to both, or

(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding £10,000 or, at the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or to both.