Calls on Leeside for standalone spiking legislation

Cork City Council has backed calls for the government to enact standalone legislation targeting drink spiking.

Drink spiking involves putting a substance, such as a drug, into someone's drink to incapacitate them.

The motion was proposed by Labour Party Cllr Ciara O’Connor, and passed at the most recent meeting of Cork City Council.

Cllr O’Connor said spiking is an attack on bodily autonomy and is often associated with sexual violence, theft, and other serious offences.

“The gardaí themselves have acknowledged significant gaps in how these incidents are recorded. Their 2024 analysis found that there is currently no specific crime category for spiking on the PULSE system.

“Instead, suspected cases have to be identified through manual keyword searches, meaning the true scale of the crime is likely to be underestimated,” she said.

The motion coincided with the launch of a campaign for standalone legislation covering spiking under the Sexual Violence Centre Cork’s ‘Safe Gigs’ campaign.

‘Spiking in Ireland’ is calling on the government to combat spiking through the introduction of standalone legislation, the development of accessible testing pathways and the provision of appropriate support services for those affected.

Veteran campaigner Mary Crilly said legislation dealing specifically with spiking is urgently needed.

A petition carried out by Safe Gig volunteers collected almost 6,000 signatures at Mumford and Sons’ concert in Marley Park in Dublin on Sunday 5 July.

The campaign has also established a ‘Spiking Hub’ where members of the public can share their experiences of being spiked.

Spiking Ireland said that the information gathered will be used to produce information for how venues can deal with spiking incidents.

Cllr O’Connor said legislation must form part of a broader national strategy.

“That should include improved garda recording systems, national protocols for emergency departments and healthcare professionals, timely toxicology testing, public awareness campaigns, training for the hospitality sector, and clear pathways to support for victims.

“Too many victims describe not only the trauma of being spiked, but also the frustration of not knowing where to turn, not being believed, or finding that evidence is lost because there is no consistent response. We can and must do better.

“Everyone deserves to enjoy a night out, attend a concert, go to a festival or simply spend time with friends without fearing that someone will secretly take away their ability to consent,” she said.

This article was produced with the support of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme funded by Coimisiún na Meán.