Off On Dualscroll
Turn Dualscroll on to scroll both language versions together.
Number 12 of 1990
FIREARMS AND OFFENSIVE WEAPONS ACT, 1990
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Preliminary
Section | |
Amendments to Firearms Acts
Authorisation to hold defective firearm without firearm certificate. | |
Offensive Weapons
Trespassing with a knife, weapon of offence or other article. | |
Power to prohibit manufacture, importation, sale, hire or loan of offensive weapons. | |
Acts Referred to | |
1976, No. 32 | |
1925, No. 17 | |
1964, No. 1 | |
1968, No. 20 | |
1971, No. 13 | |
Prevention of Crimes Act, 1871 | 1871, c. 112 |
Vagrancy Act, 1824 | 1824, c. 83 |
Number 12 of 1990
FIREARMS AND OFFENSIVE WEAPONS ACT, 1990
PART I
Preliminary
Short title and commencement.
1.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990.
(2) This Act (other than Part II) shall come into operation on the date of its passing.
(3) Part II of this Act shall come into operation on such day or days as may be fixed therefor by order or orders of the Minister either generally or with reference to any particular provision, and different days may be so fixed for different provisions of that Part.
Interpretation.
2.—(1) In this Act “the Minister” means the Minister for Justice.
(2) In this Act a reference to a section is a reference to a section of this Act unless it is indicated that reference to some other enactment is intended and a reference to a subsection is a reference to the subsection of the section in which the reference occurs, unless it is indicated that reference to some other section is intended.
(3) A reference in this Act to any enactment shall be construed as a reference to that enactment as amended or adapted by or under any subsequent enactment.
PART II
Amendments to Firearms Acts
Collective citation and construction.
3.—(1) The Firearms Acts, 1925 to 1971, and this Part may be cited together as the Firearms Acts, 1925 to 1990.
(2) The Firearms Acts, 1925 to 1971 (other than the Firearms (Proofing) Act, 1968) and this Part shall be construed together as one.
Extension of Firearms Acts to crossbows and stun guns.
4.—(1) In the Firearms Acts, 1925 to 1990, “firearm” means—
(a) a lethal firearm or other lethal weapon of any description from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged;
(b) an air gun (which expression includes an air rifle and an air pistol) or any other weapon incorporating a barrel from which metal or other slugs can be discharged;
(c) a crossbow;
(d) any type of stun gun or other weapon for causing any shock or other disablement to a person by means of electricity or any other kind of energy emission;
(e) a prohibited weapon as defined in section 1 (1) of the Firearms Act, 1925;
(f) any article which would be a firearm under any of the foregoing paragraphs but for the fact that, owing to the lack of a necessary component part or parts, or to any other defect or condition, it is incapable of discharging a shot, bullet or other missile or of causing a shock or other disablement (as the case may be);
(g) save where the context otherwise requires, any component part of any article referred to in any of the foregoing paragraphs and, for the purposes of this definition, the following articles shall be deemed to be such component parts as aforesaid:
(i) telescope sights with a light beam, or telescope sights with an electronic light amplification device or an infra-red device, designed to be fitted to a firearm specified in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (e), and
(ii) a silencer designed to be fitted to a firearm specified in paragraph (a), (b) or (e).
(2) The following provisions are hereby repealed:
(a) the definition of “firearm” in section 1 (1) of the Firearms Act, 1925, and in section 1 of the Firearms (Proofing) Act, 1968, and
(b) section 2 of the Firearms Act, 1964, and section 2 of the Firearms Act, 1971.
Amendment of section 10 of Firearms Act, 1925.
5.—The Firearms Act, 1925, is hereby amended by the insertion in section 10 after subsection (3) of the following subsection:
“(3A) (a) A person shall not sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of a firearm or ammunition for a firearm to a person who habitually resides, or to a body at an address, in a country that stands prescribed for the time being for the purposes of this section unless the superintendent of the Garda Síochána of the district in which the firearm or ammunition is kept, being satisfied that the transaction is authorised by the competent authorities of that country, also authorises it.
(b) This subsection is without prejudice to the other provisions of this section and to section 16 of this Act but subsection (4) of that section does not apply to a firearm or ammunition for a firearm carried by a person from the State for the purpose of transferring it permanently to such a country as aforesaid.
(c) In this subsection ‘firearm’ does not include a firearm specified in paragraph (c) or (d) (or in paragraph (f) or (g) so far as either of those paragraphs relates to the said paragraph (c) or (d)) of section 4 (1) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990.”.
Authorisation to hold defective firearm without firearm certificate.
6.—(1) The superintendent of the Garda Síochána of a district may grant an authorisation in writing to a person resident in the district, not being a person disentitled under the Firearms Acts, 1925 to 1990, to hold a firearm certificate, to have in his possession, without a firearm certificate, a firearm where he is satisfied that the firearm would not be a firearm but for section 4 (1) (f) and that the person has a good reason for wishing to keep it and may be permitted to do so without danger to the public safety or the peace.
(2) The superintendent of the district where the holder of an authorisation under this section resides may, at any time, attach to the authorisation any conditions, whether as regards safe custody or otherwise, which he considers necessary and may at any time revoke the authorisation.
Possession, sale, etc., of silencers.
7.—(1) A person shall be guilty of an offence if he has in his possession or sells or transfers to another person a silencer unless the possession, sale or transfer is authorised in writing by the superintendent of the district in which the first-mentioned person resides.
(2) A superintendent shall not grant an authorisation under this section unless he is satisfied that the person who is to have possession of the silencer or to whom it is to be sold or transferred is the holder of a firearm certificate for a firearm to which the silencer can be fitted and that—
(a) having regard to all the circumstances, the possession, sale or transfer concerned will not endanger the public safety or the peace, and
(b) the person has a special need that is, in the opinion of the superintendent, sufficient to justify the granting of the authorisation for the silencer.
(3) The superintendent of the district where the holder of an authorisation under this section resides may, at any time, attach to the authorisation such conditions as he considers necessary for the purpose of preventing danger to the public or to the peace or of ensuring that the silencer is used only to satisfy the special need for which the authorisation was granted.
(4) An authorisation under this section may be granted for such period not exceeding one year as is specified in the authorisation and may be revoked by the superintendent of the district where its holder resides.
(5) A person who contravenes a condition attached to an authorisation under this section shall be guilty of an offence.
(6) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both, or
(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both.
(7) This section does not apply in relation to a person specified in paragraph (b), (c) or (d) of subsection (3) of section 2 of the Firearms Act, 1925, or paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (4) (inserted by the Firearms Act, 1964) of that section.
(8) In this section—
“silencer” means a silencer specified in section 4 (1) (g);
“superintendent” means a superintendent of the Garda Síochána.
Reckless discharge of firearm.
8.—A person who discharges a firearm being reckless as to whether any person will be injured or not, shall be guilty of an offence, whether any such injury is caused or not, and shall be liable—
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to both, or
(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both.
PART III
Offensive Weapons
Possession of knives and other articles.
9.—(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), where a person has with him in any public place any knife or any other article which has a blade or which is sharply pointed, he shall be guilty of an offence.
(2) It shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) to prove that he had good reason or lawful authority for having the article with him in a public place.
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2), it shall be a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) to prove that he had the article with him for use at work or for a recreational purpose.
(4) Where a person, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse (the onus of proving which shall lie on him), has with him in any public place—
(a) any flick-knife, or
(b) any other article whatsoever made or adapted for use for causing injury to or incapacitating a person,
he shall be guilty of an offence.
(5) Where a person has with him in any public place any article intended by him unlawfully to cause injury to, incapacitate or intimidate any person either in a particular eventuality or otherwise, he shall be guilty of an offence.
(6) In a prosecution for an offence under subsection (5), it shall not be necessary for the prosecution to allege or prove that the intent to cause injury, incapacitate or intimidate was intent to cause injury to, incapacitate or intimidate a particular person; and if, having regard to all the circumstances (including the type of the article alleged to have been intended to cause injury, incapacitate or intimidate, the time of the day or night, and the place), the court (or the jury as the case may be) thinks it reasonable to do so, it may regard possession of the article as sufficient evidence of intent in the absence of any adequate explanation by the accused.
(7) (a) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to both.
(b) A person guilty of an offence under subsection (4) or (5) shall be liable—
(i) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to both, or
(ii) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both.
(8) In this section “public place” includes any highway and any other premises or place to which at the material time the public have or are permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise, and includes any club premises and any train, vessel or vehicle used for the carriage of persons for reward.
(9) In this section “flick-knife” means a knife—
(a) which has a blade which opens when hand pressure is applied to a button, spring, lever or other device in or attached to the handle, or
(b) which has a blade which is released from the handle or sheath by the force of gravity or the application of centrifugal force and when released is locked in an open position by means of a button, spring, lever or other device.
Trespassing with a knife, weapon of offence or other article.
10.—(1) Where a person is on any premises as defined in subsection (2) as a trespasser, he shall be guilty of an offence if he has with him—
(a) any knife or other article to which section 9 (1) applies, or
(b) any weapon of offence (as defined in subsection (2)).
(2) In this section—
“premises” means any building, any part of a building and any land ancillary to a building;
“weapon of offence” means any article made or adapted for use for causing injury to or incapacitating a person, or intended by the person having it with him for such use.
(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to both, or
(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both.
Production of article capable of inflicting serious injury.
11.—Where a person, while committing or appearing to be about to commit an offence, or in the course of a dispute or fight, produces in a manner likely unlawfully to intimidate another person any article capable of inflicting serious injury, he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable—
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to both, or
(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both.
Power to prohibit manufacture, importation, sale, hire or loan of offensive weapons.
12.—(1) Any person who—
(a) manufactures, sells or hires, or offers or exposes for sale or hire, or by way of business repairs or modifies, or
(b) has in his possession for the purpose of sale or hire or for the purpose of repair or modification by way of business, or
(c) puts on display, or lends or gives to any other person,
a weapon to which this section applies shall be guilty of an offence.
(2) Where an offence under subsection (1) is committed by a body corporate and is proved to have been so committed with the consent or connivance of or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of a director, manager, secretary or other officer of the body corporate, the director, manager, secretary or other officer or any person purporting to act in such capacity shall also be guilty of an offence.
(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable—
(a) on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding twelve months or to both, or
(b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both.
(4) The Minister may by order direct that this section shall apply to any description of weapon specified in the order except any firearm subject to the Firearms Acts, 1925 to 1990.
(5) The Minister may by order amend or revoke an order made under this section.
(6) The importation of a weapon to which this section applies is hereby prohibited.
(7) Every order made under this section shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the order is passed by either such House within the next 21 days on which that House has sat after the order is laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
Forfeiture of weapons and other articles.
13.—(1) Where a person is convicted of an offence under this Part, the court by or before which he is convicted may order any article in respect of which the offence was committed to be forfeited and either destroyed or otherwise disposed of in such manner as the court may determine.
(2) An order under this section shall not take effect until the ordinary time for instituting an appeal against the conviction or order concerned has expired or, where such an appeal is instituted, until it or any further appeal is finally decided or abandoned or the ordinary time for instituting any further appeal has expired.
Power of arrest without warrant.
14.—A member of the Garda Síochána may arrest without warrant any person who is, or whom the member, with reasonable cause, suspects to be, in the act of committing an offence under section 9, 10 or 11.
Search warrants.
15.—If a justice of the District Court or a Peace Commissioner is satisfied on the sworn information of a member of the Garda Síochána that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that an offence under section 12 has been or is being committed on any premises, he may issue a warrant under his hand authorising a specified member of the Garda Síochána, accompanied by such other members of the Garda Síochána as the member thinks necessary, at any time or times within one month from the date of the issue of the warrant, on production if so requested of the warrant, to enter, if need be by force, and search the premises specified in the warrant and to seize anything found there that he believes on reasonable grounds may be required to be used in evidence in any proceedings for an offence under section 12 or an offence under the Customs Acts in relation to the importation into the State of a weapon to which section 12 applies.
Power of search without warrant.
16.—(1) This section applies to a situation where a number of people are congregated in any public place (within the meaning of section 9 (8)) and a breach of the peace is occurring, or a member of the Garda Síochána has reasonable grounds for believing that a breach of the peace has occurred, or may occur, in that place when the people were or are congregated there.
(2) If in a situation to which this section applies a member of the Garda Síochána suspects with reasonable cause that a person has with him any article in contravention of section 9, he may search him in order to ascertain whether this is the case.
(3) If in a situation to which this section applies a member of the Garda Síochána suspects with reasonable cause that some one or more of the people present has or have with him or them an article or articles in contravention of section 9, then, even if the member has no reason to suspect that any particular one of the people present has with him any such article, the member may search any of those people if he considers that a search is necessary in order to ascertain whether any of them has with him any such article or articles.
Extension of section 8 of Criminal Law Act, 1976.
17.—Section 8 of the Criminal Law Act, 1976, is hereby amended by the insertion in subsection (1) after paragraph (i) of the following paragraph:
“(j) an offence under section 12 (1) of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act, 1990.”.
Repeal of portion of section 4 of Vagrancy Act, 1824.
18.—Section 4 of the Vagrancy Act, 1824 (as extended to Ireland by section 15 of the Prevention of Crimes Act, 1871), is hereby amended by the deletion of “or being armed with any gun, pistol, hanger, cutlass, bludgeon, or other offensive weapon,” and “and every such gun, pistol, hanger, cutlass, bludgeon, or other offensive weapon,”.
Uimhir 12 de 1990
ACHT NA nARM TINE AGUS NA nARM IONSAITHEACH, 1990
RIAR NA nALT
Réamhráiteach
Alt | |
1. | |
2. |
Leasuithe ar Achtanna na nArm Tine
3. | |
4. | Crosbhoghanna agus néalghunnaí a thabhairt faoi réim Achtanna na nArm Tine. |
5. | |
6. | |
7. | |
8. |
Airm Ionsaitheacha
Na hAchtanna dá dTagraítear | |
Prevention of Crimes Act, 1871 | 1871, c. 112 |
Vagrancy Act, 1824 | 1824, c. 83 |
Uimhir 12 de 1990
ACHT NA nARM TINE AGUS NA nARM IONSAITHEACH, 1990
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
ACHT DO LEASÚ AGUS DO LEATHNÚ ACHTANNA NA nARM TINE, 1925 GO 1971, DO RIALÚ INFHAIGHT-EACHT AGUS SEILBH ARM IONSAITHEACH AGUS AIRTEAGAL EILE AGUS DO DHÉANAMH SOCRÚ LE hAGHAIDH NITHE ÁIRITHE EILE A BHAINEANN LEIS NA NITHE RÉAMHRÁITE. [12 Meitheamh, 1990]
ACHTAÍTEAR AG AN OIREACHTAS MAR A LEANAS:
CUID I
Réamhráiteach
Gearrtheideal agus tosach feidhme.
1.—(1) Féadfar Acht na nArm Tine agus na nArm Ionsaitheach, 1990, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo (ar leith ó Chuid II) i ngníomh ar dháta a rite.
(3) Tiocfaidh Cuid II den Acht seo i ngníomh cibé lá nó laethanta a shocrófar chuige sin le hordú nó le horduithe ón Aire, i gcoitinne nó faoi threoir aon fhorála áirithe, agus féadfar laethanta éagsúla a shocrú amhlaidh le haghaidh forálacha éagsúla den Chuid sin.
Léiriú.
2.—(1) San Acht seo ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Dlí agus Cirt.
(2) San Acht seo, aon tagairt d'alt is tagairt í d'alt den Acht seo mura gcuirtear in iúl gur tagairt d'achtachán éigin eile atá beartaithe agus aon tagairt d'fho-alt is tagairt í don fho-alt den alt ina bhfuil an tagairt, mura gcuirtear in iúl gur tagairt d'alt éigin eile atá beartaithe.
(3) Déanfar tagairt san Acht seo d'aon achtachán a fhorléiriú mar thagairt don achtachán sin arna leasú nó arna oiriúnú le haon achtachán, nó faoi aon achtachán, dá éis sin.
CUID II
Leasuithe ar Achtanna na nArm Tine
Comhlua agus forléiriú.
3.—(1) Féadfar Achtanna na nArm Tine, 1925 go 1990, a ghairm d'Achtanna na nArm Tine, 1925 go 1971, agus den Chuid seo, le chéile.
(2) Déanfar Achtanna na nArm Tine, 1925 go 1971 (ar leith ó Acht na nArm Tine (Promhadh), 1968) agus an Chuid seo a fhorléiriú le chéile mar aon ní amháin.
Crosbhoghanna agus néalghunnaí a thabhairt faoi réim Achtanna na nArm Tine.
4.—(1) In Achtanna na nArm Tine, 1925 go 1990, ciallaíonn “arm tine”—
(a) arm tine marfach nó arm marfach eile de thuairisc ar bith as ar féidir aon urchar, piléar nó diúracán eile a chaitheamh;
(b) aerghunna (abairt a fholaíonn aer-raidhfil agus aerphiostal) nó aon arm eile ar a bhfuil bairille as ar féidir slugaí miotail nó slugaí eile a chaitheamh;
(c) crosbhogha;
(d) aon sórt néalghunna nó airm eile chun aon turraing a thabhairt do dhuine, nó chun duine a chur ar aon mhíthreoir eile, le leictreachas nó le hastú fuinnimh de chineál ar bith eile;
(e) arm toirmiscthe mar a mhínítear sin in alt 1 (1) d'Acht na nArm Teine, 1925;
(f) aon airteagal a bheadh ina arm tine faoi aon cheann de na míreanna roimhe seo murach go dtarlaíonn, de bhíthin comhpháirt riachtanach nó comhpháirteanna riachtanacha a bheith in easnamh, nó de bhíthin aon locht nó bail eile a bheith air, nach féidir urchar, piléar nó diúracán eile a chaitheamh leis nó turraing a thabhairt do dhuine nó duine a chur ar mhíthreoir eile leis (de réir mar a bheidh);
(g) ach amháin mar a n-éilíonn an comhthéacs a mhalairt, aon chomhpháirt d'aon airteagal dá dtagraítear in aon cheann de na míreanna roimhe seo agus, chun críocha an mhínithe seo, measfar gur comhpháirteanna den chineál sin a dúradh na hairteagail seo a leanas:
(i) treoracha teileascóip le léas solais, nó treoracha teileascóip le feiste aimpliúcháin solais leictreonach nó le feiste infridhearg, atá deartha lena bhfeistiú ar arm tine a shonraítear i mír (a), (b), (c) nó (e), agus
(ii) tostóir atá deartha lena fheistiú ar arm tine a shonraítear i mír (a), (b) nó (e).
(2) Aisghairtear leis seo na forálacha seo a leanas:
(a) an míniú ar “arm teine” in alt 1 (1) d'Acht na nArm Teine, 1925, agus an míniú ar “arm tine” in alt 1 d'Acht na nArm Tine (Promhadh), 1968, agus
(b) alt 2 d'Acht na nArm Tine, 1964, agus, alt 2 d'Acht na nArm Tine, 1971.
Leasú ar alt 10 d'Acht na nArm Teine, 1925.
5.—Leasaítear leis seo Acht na nArm Teine, 1925, tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur isteach in alt 10 i ndiaidh fho-alt (3):
“(3A) (a) Ní dhéanfaidh duine arm tine nó armlón le haghaidh airm tine a dhíol le duine, nó a aistriú, nó a dhiúscairt ar shlí eile, chuig duine, a chónaíonn de ghnáth i dtír, nó le comhlacht nó chuig comhlacht ag seoladh i dtír, atá forordaithe de thuras na huaire chun críocha an ailt seo mura ndéanfaidh ceannfort an Gharda Síochána don cheantar ina gcoimeádtar an t-arm tine nó an t-armlón, ar é bheith deimhin de go bhfuil an t-idirbheart údaraithe ag údaráis inniúla na tíre sin, an t-idirbheart a údarú freisin.
(b) Ní dochar an fo-alt seo d'fhorálacha eile an ailt seo ná d'alt 16 den Acht seo ach níl feidhm ag fo-alt (4) den alt sin maidir le harm tine, nó le harmlón le haghaidh airm tine, a iompraíonn duine amach as an Stát d'fhonn é a aistriú go buan chuig tír den sórt sin a dúradh.
(c) San fho-alt seo ní fholaíonn ‘arm tine’ arm tine a shonraítear i mír (c) nó (d) (nó i mír (f) nó (g) a mhéid a bhaineann ceachtar de na míreanna sin leis an mír sin (c) nó (d)) d'alt 4 (1) d'Acht na nArm Tine agus na nArm Ionsaitheach, 1990.”.
Údarú arm tine lochtach a shealbhú gan deimhniú airm tine.
6.—(1) Féadfaidh ceannfort an Gharda Síochána do cheantar údarú i scríbhinn a dheonú do dhuine a chónaíonn sa cheantar, nach duine é nach bhfuil i dteideal deimhniú airm tine a shealbhú faoi Achtanna na nArm Tine, 1925 go 1990, á údarú dó arm tine a bheith ina sheilbh aige, gan deimhniú airm tine a bheith aige, más deimhin leis an gceannfort nach mbeadh an t-arm tine ina arm tine murach alt 4 (1) (f) agus go bhfuil cúis mhaith ag an duine le bheith ag iarraidh é a choimeád agus gur féidir a cheadú dó é sin a dhéanamh gan sábháilteacht an phobail ná an tsíocháin a chur i mbaol.
(2) Féadfaidh an ceannfort don cheantar ina gcónaíonn an sealbhóir ar údarú faoin alt seo aon choinníollacha is dóigh leis is gá, cibé acu i ndáil le slánchoimeád nó eile, a chur leis an údarú tráth ar bith agus féadfaidh sé tráth ar bith an t-údarú a chúlghairm.
Tostóirí a shealbhú, a dhíol, etc.
7.—(1) Beidh duine ciontach i gcion má bhíonn tostóir ina sheilbh aige nó má dhíolann sé le duine eile é nó má aistríonn sé chuig duine eile é mura mbeidh an sealbhú, an díol nó an t-aistriú sin údaraithe i scríbhinn ag an gceannfort don cheantar ina gcónaíonn an duine céadluaite.
(2) Ní dheonóidh ceannfort údarú faoin alt seo mura deimhin leis, maidir leis an duine a mbeidh an tostóir le bheith ina sheilbh aige nó a mbeidh sé le díol leis nó le haistriú chuige, gur sealbhóir é ar dheimhniú airm tine d'arm tine ar féidir an tostóir a fheistiú air agus mura deimhin leis—
(a) ag féachaint do na himthosca go léir, nach gcuirfidh an sealbhú, an díol nó an t-aistriú sin lena mbaineann sábháilteacht an phobail ná an tsíocháin i mbaol, agus
(b) go bhfuil riachtanas speisialta i gceist i gcás an duine is leor, i dtuairim an cheannfoirt, le go ndéanfaí an t-údarú le haghaidh an tostóra a dheonú dó.
(3) Féadfaidh an ceannfort don cheantar ina gcónaíonn an sealbhóir ar údarú faoin alt seo cibé coinníollacha a chur leis an údarú, tráth ar bith, ar coinníollacha iad is dóigh leis an gceannfort is gá chun baol don phobal nó don tsíocháin a chosc nó chun a chinntiú nach n-úsáidfear an tostóir ach amháin chun freastal ar an riachtanas speisialta ar lena aghaidh a deonaíodh an t-údarú.
(4) Féadfar údarú faoin alt seo a dheonú ar feadh cibé tréimhse, nach faide ná bliain, a bheidh sonraithe san údarú agus féadfaidh an ceannfort don cheantar ina gcónaíonn an duine is sealbhóir air, é a chúlghairm.
(5) Aon duine a sháróidh coinníoll a bheidh ag gabháil le húdarú faoin alt seo, beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
(6) Aon duine a bheidh ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo, dlífear—
(a) ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £1,000 nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná bliain amháin, nó iad araon, a chur air, nó
(b) ar é a chiontú ar díotáil, fíneáil nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná cúig bliana, nó iad araon, a chur air.
(7) Níl feidhm ag an alt seo i ndáil le duine a shonraítear i mír (b), (c) nó (d) d'fho-alt (3) d'alt 2 d'Acht na nArm Teine, 1925, nó i mír (a) nó (b) d'fho-alt (4) (a cuireadh isteach le hAcht na nArm Tine, 1964) den alt sin.
(8) San alt seo—
ciallaíonn “tostóir” tostóir a shonraítear in alt 4 (1) (g);
ciallaíonn “ceannfort” ceannfort den Gharda Síochána.
Arm tine a scaoileadh go meargánta.
8.—Aon duine a scaoilfidh arm tine go meargánta ar mhodh a d'fhéadfadh aon duine a ghortú, beidh sé ciontach i gcion, cibé acu a thrúigfear an gortú sin nó nach dtrúigfear, agus dlífear—
(a) ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £1,000, nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná dhá mhí dhéag, nó iad araon, a chur air, nó
(b) ar é a chiontú ar díotáil, fíneáil nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná cúig bliana, nó iad araon, a chur air.
CUID III
Airm Ionsaitheacha
Sceana agus airteagail eile a shealbhú.
9.—(1) Faoi réir fho-ailt (2) agus (3), má bhíonn aon scian, nó aon airteagal eile ar a bhfuil lann nó bior géar, ina sheilbh ag duine in áit phoiblí, beidh an duine sin ciontach i gcion.
(2) Is cosaint é do dhuine a chúiseofar i gcion faoi fho-alt (1) a chruthú go raibh cúis mhaith nó údarás dleathach aige leis an airteagal a bheith ina sheilbh aige in áit phoiblí.
(3) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht fho-alt (2), is cosaint é do dhuine a chúiseofar i gcion faoi fho-alt (1) a chruthú go raibh an t-airteagal ina sheilbh aige lena úsáid ag an obair nó chun críche caithimh aimsire.
(4) I gcás go mbeidh—
(a) aon smeach-scian, nó
(b) aon airteagal eile ar bith atá déanta nó oiriúnaithe lena úsáid chun díobháil a dhéanamh do dhuine nó chun duine a éagumasú,
ina sheilbh ag duine, in aon áit phoiblí, gan údarás dleathach nó leithscéal réasúnach (agus is air féin a bheidh an dualgas é sin a chruthú), beidh an duine sin ciontach i gcion.
(5) I gcás aon airteagal a bheith ina sheilbh ag duine in aon áit phoiblí, agus é ar intinn aige, go neamhdhleathach, díobháil a dhéanamh leis d'aon duine, nó aon duine a éagumasú nó a imeaglú leis, i dteagmhas áirithe nó ar shlí eile, beidh an duine sin ciontach i gcion.
(6) In ionchúiseamh mar gheall ar chion faoi fho-alt (5), ní gá do thaobh an ionchúisimh a líomhnú ná a chruthú, ó thaobh é bheith ar intinn díobháil, éagumasú nó imeaglú a dhéanamh, go raibh sé ar intinn díobháil a dhéanamh do dhuine áirithe nó é a éagumasú nó a imeaglú; agus más rud é, ag féachaint do na himthosca go léir (lena n-áirítear an cineál airteagail a líomhnaítear go raibh sé ar intinn díobháil, éagumasú nó imeaglú a dhéanamh leis, an tráth den lá nó den oíche, agus an áit) gur dóigh leis an gcúirt (nó leis an ngiúiré, de réir mar a bheidh) go bhfuil sé réasúnach déanamh amhlaidh, féadfaidh sí nó sé a mheas gur leor sealbhú an airteagail mar fhianaise ar intinn, cheal míniú leordhóthanach ar bith ón gcúisí.
(7) (a) Aon duine a bheidh ciontach i gcion faoi fho-alt (1), dlífear, ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £1,000, nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná dhá mhí dhéag, nó iad araon, a chur air.
(b) Aon duine a bheidh ciontach i gcion faoi fho-alt (4) nó (5) dlífear—
(i) ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £1,000, nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná dhá mhí dhéag, nó iad araon, a chur air, nó
(ii) ar é a chiontú ar díotáil, fíneáil nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná cúig bliana, nó iad araon, a chur air.
(8) San alt seo folaíonn “áit phoiblí” aon mhórbhealach agus aon áitreabh nó áit eile a bhfuil, an tráth ábhartha, rochtain nó cead rochtana ag an bpobal air, cibé acu ar íocaíocht a dhéanamh nó ar shlí eile, agus folaíonn sé aon áitreabh de chuid club agus aon traein, soitheach nó feithicil a úsáidtear chun daoine a iompar ar luaíocht.
(9) San alt seo ciallaíonn “smeach-scian” scian—
(a) ar a bhfuil lann a osclaíonn nuair a chuirtear brú láimhe ar chnaipe, ar lingeán, ar luamhán nó ar fheiste eile atá ar chos, nó i gceangal le cos, na scine, nó
(b) ar a bhfuil lann a scaoiltear as cos nó as cás na scine trí fhórsa na himtharraingthe nó trí fheidhmiú fórsa lártheifigh agus, nuair a scaoiltear é, a choinnítear gafa i staid oscailte le cnaipe, le lingeán, le luamhán nó le feiste eile.
Foghail a dhéanamh le scian, le harm ionsaithe nó le hairteagal eile.
10.—(1) I gcás duine a bheith in aon áitreabh, mar a mhínítear sin i bhfo-alt (2), mar fhoghlaí, beidh sé ciontach i gcion má bhíonn ceachtar díobh seo a leanas ina sheilbh aige, eadhon—
(a) aon scian nó airteagal eile lena mbaineann alt 9 (1), nó
(b) aon arm ionsaithe (mar a mhínítear sin i bhfo-alt (2)).
(2) San alt seo—
ciallaíonn “áitreabh” aon fhoirgneamh, aon chuid d'fhoirgneamh agus aon talamh a fhoghabhann le foirgneamh;
ciallaíonn “arm ionsaithe” aon airteagal atá déanta nó oiriúnaithe lena úsáid chun díobháil a dhéanamh do dhuine nó chun duine a éagumasú, nó a bhfuil sé ar intinn ag an duine ar ina sheilbh atá sé é a úsáid amhlaidh.
(3) Aon duine a bheidh ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo, dlífear—
(a) ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £1,000, nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná dhá mhí dhéag, nó iad araon, a chur air, nó
(b) ar é a chiontú ar díotáil, fíneáil nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná cúig bliana, nó iad araon, a chur air.
Taispeáint airteagail a d'fhéadfadh mórdhíobháil a dhéanamh.
11.—Más rud é go ndéanfaidh duine, le linn dó cion a dhéanamh nó le linn dó bheith, de réir dealraimh, ar tí cion a dhéanamh, nó le linn conspóide nó troda, aon airteagal a d'fhéadfadh mórdhíobháil a dhéanamh, a thaispeáint i slí ar dóigh dó duine eile a imeaglú go neamhdhleathach, beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus dlífear—
(a) ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £1,000, nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná dhá mhí dhéag, nó iad araon, a chur air, nó
(b) ar é a chiontú ar díotáil, fíneáil nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná cúig bliana, nó iad araon, a chur air.
Cumhacht chun monarú, allmhairiú, díol, fruiliú nó iasachtú arm ionsaitheach a thoirmeasc.
12.—(1) Aon duine——
(a) a mhonaróidh, a dhíolfaidh nó a fhruileoidh arm lena mbaineann an t-alt seo, nó a thairgfidh nó a thaisealbhfaidh é lena dhíol nó lena fhruiliú, nó a dheiseoidh nó a mhodhnóidh an céanna ar bhonn gnó, nó
(b) a mbeidh arm lena mbaineann an t-alt seo ina sheilbh aige lena dhíol nó lena fhruiliú, nó chun é a dheisiú nó a mhodhnú ar bhonn gnó, nó
(c) a chuirfidh arm lena mbaineann an t-alt seo ar taispeáint, nó a thabharfaidh ar iasacht é nó a thabharfaidh é d'aon duine eile,
beidh sé ciontach i gcion.
(2) I gcás cion faoi fho-alt (1) a bheith déanta ag comhlacht corp raithe agus go gcruthófar go ndearnadh amhlaidh é le toiliú nó le cúlcheadú, nó gurb inchurtha é i leith aon fhaillí ar thaobh, aon duine is stiúrthóir, bainisteoir, rúnaí nó oifigeach eile de chuid an chomhlachta chorpraithe, beidh an stiúrthóir, an bainisteoir, an rúnaí nó an t-oifigeach eile, nó aon duine a d'airbheartaigh a bheith ag gníomhú in aon cháil den sórt sin, ciontach freisin i gcion.
(3) Aon duine a bheidh ciontach i gcion faoin alt seo, dlífear—
(a) ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £1,000, nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná dhá mhí dhéag, nó iad araon, a chur air, nó
(b) ar é a chiontú ar díotáil, fíneáil nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná cúig bliana, nó iad araon, a chur air.
(4) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, a ordú go mbeidh feidhm ag an alt seo maidir le harm de thuairisc ar bith a bheidh sonraithe san ordú, ach amháin aon arm tine a thagann faoi réir Achtanna na nArm Tine, 1925 go 1990.
(5) Féadfaidh an tAire, le hordú, ordú a rinneadh faoin alt seo a leasú nó a chúlghairm.
(6) Toirmisctear leis seo arm lena mbaineann an t-alt seo a allmhairiú.
(7) Gach ordú a dhéanfar faoin alt seo leagfar é faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta agus má dhéanann ceachtar Teach acu sin, laistigh den 21 lá a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an t-ordú a leagan faoina bhráid, rún a rith ag neamhniú an ordaithe, beidh an t-ordú ar neamhní dá réir sin, ach sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin ordú.
Airm agus airteagail eile a fhorghéilleadh.
13.—(1) I gcás ina gciontófar duine i gcion faoin gCuid seo, féadfaidh an chúirt a chiontóidh é nó ar os a comhair a chiontófar é a ordú go ndéanfar aon airteagal ar ina leith a rinneadh an cion a fhorghéilleadh agus a dhíothú nó a dhiúscairt ar shlí eile ar cibé dóigh a chinnfidh an chúirt.
(2) Ní thiocfaidh ordú faoin alt seo in éifeacht go dtí go mbeidh deireadh leis an ngnáth-thréimhse chun achomharc a thionscnamh i gcoinne an chiontaithe nó an ordaithe lena mbaineann nó, i gcás ina dtionscnófar achomharc den sórt sin, go dtí go mbeidh an t-achomharc sin nó aon achomharc breise cinntithe go críochnaitheach nó go mbeifear tar éis éirí as nó go mbeidh deireadh leis an ngnáth-thréimhse chun aon achomharc breise a thionscnamh.
Cumhacht gabhála gan bharántas.
14.—Má thagann comhalta den Gharda Síochána ar aon duine a bhfuil, nó a bhfuil drochamhras ar an gcomhalta, le cúis réasúnach, go bhfuil cion faoi alt 9, 10 nó 11 á dhéanamh aige, féadfaidh sé é a ghabháil gan bharántas.
Barántais chuardaigh.
15.—Más deimhin le breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche nó le Coimisinéir Síochána, ar fhaisnéis faoi mhionn ó chomhalta den Gharda Síochána, go bhfuil forais réasúnacha drochamhrais ann go bhfuil cion faoi alt 12 déanta nó á dhéanamh in aon áitreabh, féadfaidh sé barántas a eisiúint, faoina láimh, á údarú do chomhalta sonraithe den Gharda Síochána, i dteannta cibé comhaltaí eile den Gharda Síochána a mheasfaidh an comhalta is gá, dul isteach, le forneart más gá, tráth nó tráthanna ar bith laistigh de mhí amháin ó dháta eisiúna an bharántais, ar an mbarántas a thabhairt ar aird má iarrtar sin air, san áitreabh a bheidh sonraithe sa bharántas agus an t-áitreabh sin a chuardach agus aon ní a gheofar ansin a urghabháil más dóigh leis, agus forais réasúnacha aige, go dteastódh sé lena úsáid i bhfianaise in aon imeachtaí i leith ciona faoi alt 12 nó i leith ciona faoi na hAchtanna Custam i ndáil le harm lena mbaineann alt 12 a allmhairiú isteach sa Stát.
Cumhacht cuardaigh gan bharántas.
16.—(1) Baineann an t-alt seo le cás ina mbeidh líon daoine tagtha le chéile in aon áit phoiblí (de réir bhrí alt 9 (8)) agus go mbeidh briseadh síochána ag tarlú, nó ina mbeidh forais réasúnacha ag comhalta den Gharda Síochána chun a chreidiúint gur tharla briseadh síochána, nó go bhféadfaidh sé tarlú, san áit sin fad a bhí nó fad a bheidh na daoine tagtha le chéile ann.
(2) Más rud é, i gcás lena mbaineann an t-alt seo, go mbeidh drochamhras ar chomhalta den Gharda Síochána, agus cúis réasúnach aige leis, go bhfuil aon airteagal ina sheilbh ag duine de shárú ar alt 9, féadfaidh sé an duine a chuardach d'fhonn a fháil amach an mar sin atá.
(3) Más rud é, i gcás lena mbaineann an t-alt seo, go mbeidh drochamhras ar chomhalta den Gharda Síochana, agus cúis réasúnach aige leis, go bhfuil, de shárú ar alt 9, airteagal nó airteagail ina sheilbh nó ina seilbh ag duine amháin nó níos mó de na daoine atá i láthair, ansin, fiú mura bhfuil cúis drochamhrais ar an gcomhalta go bhfuil aon airteagal den sórt sin ina sheilbh ag aon duine áirithe amháin de na daoine atá i láthair, féadfaidh an comhalta aon duine de na daoine sin a chuardach más dóigh leis gur gá cuardach a dhéanamh d'fhonn a fháil amach an bhfuil aon airteagal nó airteagail den sórt sin ina sheilbh ag aon duine díobh.
Leathnú ar alt 8 den Acht um an Dlí Coiriúil, 1976.
17.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 8 den Acht um an Dlí Coiriúil, 1976, tríd an mír seo a leanas a chur isteach i bhfo-alt (1) i ndiaidh mhír (i):
“(j) le cion faoi alt 12 (1) d'Acht na nArm Tine agus na nArm Ionsaitheach, 1990.”.
Aisghairm ar chuid d'alt 4 den Vagrancy Act, 1824.
18.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 4 den Vagrancy Act, 1824 (mar a tugadh feidhm dó, maidir le hÉirinn, le halt 15 den Prevention of Crimes Act, 1871), tríd an méid seo a leanas a scriosadh, eadhon, “or being armed with any gun, pistol, hanger, cutlass, bludgeon, or other offensive weapon,” agus “and every such gun, pistol, hanger, cutlass, bludgeon, or other offensive weapon,”.