Children Act, 1997

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Oath or affirmation not necessary for child witnesses.

28.—(1) Notwithstanding any rule of law, in any civil proceedings (whether or not they are proceedings to which this Part applies) the evidence of a child who has not attained the age of 14 years may be received otherwise than on oath or affirmation if the court is satisfied that the child is capable of giving an intelligible account of events which are relevant to the proceedings.

(2) Any child whose evidence is received in accordance with subsection (1) and who makes a statement material in the proceedings concerned which the child knows to be false or does not believe to be true, shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction shall be liable to be dealt with as if guilty of perjury.

(3) Subsection (1) shall apply to a person with mental disability who has attained the age of 14 years as it applies to a child who has not attained that age.

(4) Unsworn evidence received by virtue of this section may corroborate evidence (sworn or unsworn) given by any other person.