Section 4 - General rules of construction

(1) This Act shall not be construed strictly, either as against the Republic or as against a person accused of a criminal offence, but shall be construed amply and beneficially for giving effect to the purposes of this Act.

(2) In the construction of this Act, a Court is not bound by a judicial decision or opinion on the construction of any other enactment, or of the common law, as to the definition of a criminal offence or any other offences or of an element of a criminal offence or of any other offence.

(3) The illustrations set out in this Act form part of this Act and may be used as aids to its construction, but they do not limit the generality of a provision of this Act.