48.—(1) Notwithstanding section 10 (4) of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851, and subject to subsection (2), summary proceedings for an offence under section 64 or 115 of the Principal Act may be instituted—

(a) at any time within 6 months from the date on which the offence was committed, or

(b) at any time within 3 months from the date on which evidence sufficient, in the opinion of the person by whom the proceedings are instituted, to justify proceedings comes to such person’s knowledge,

whichever is the later.

(2) Summary proceedings mentioned in subsection (1) of this section shall not be instituted later than 3 years from the date on which the offence was committed.

(3) For the purposes of this section, a certificate signed by the person instituting the proceedings or on his behalf by a person authorised by him to sign such a certificate on his behalf stating the date on which evidence described in subsection (1)(b) of this section came to the knowledge of the first mentioned person shall, until the contrary is shown, be sufficient evidence in any proceedings under section 64 or 115 of the Principal Act of the facts stated therein, without proof of any signature on it or that the signatory was the proper person to sign it, and shall, until the contrary is shown, be sufficient evidence of compliance by the first mentioned person with the requirements imposed on him by or under this section.