Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 1993

What is this act about?

This law updates the rules about sexual offences, including buggery, indecency, and prostitution, and repeals older related laws. It aims to clarify and amend the legal framework surrounding these acts.

Who it applies to: Individuals who commit or attempt to commit sexual acts or gross indecency with minors or mentally impaired persons; Individuals who solicit or importune for sexual offences or prostitution.

Deadlines:

Sexual acts with persons under 17 years of age.
Buggery with a person under 15 years can lead to life imprisonment.
Gross indecency with a male under 17 years can lead to imprisonment for up to 2 years.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Criminal law
Articles: 15
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

Sexual acts with persons under 17 years of age.
Sexual acts and gross indecency with mentally impaired persons.
Soliciting or importuning for sexual offences or prostitution.
The organization of and living on the earnings of prostitution.

Who does this act apply to?

Individuals who commit or attempt to commit sexual acts or gross indecency with minors or mentally impaired persons.
Individuals who solicit or importune for sexual offences or prostitution.
Individuals involved in organizing prostitution or living on its earnings.

What are the key points?

The offence of buggery between persons is abolished, subject to specific exceptions for minors and mentally impaired persons.
Buggery with a person under 15 years can lead to life imprisonment.
Gross indecency with a male under 17 years can lead to imprisonment for up to 2 years.
Soliciting for prostitution in a public place can result in a fine of up to £500 or imprisonment for up to 4 weeks for repeat offences.

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Fisheries and Foreshore (Amendment) Act, 1998

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Criminal law

Legal text

Contents (15)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
Section 8
Section 9
Section 10
Section 11
Section 12
Section 13
Section 14
Section 15

Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 1993 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.ie) Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie) Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1993 Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 1993 Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 1993 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Revised Act Acht Athbh… Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 20 of 1993 CRIMINAL LAW (SEXUAL OFFENCES) ACT, 1993 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section

Section 1

Interpretation.

Section 2

Abolition of offence of buggery between persons.

Section 3

Buggery of persons under 17 years of age.

Section 4

Gross indecency with males under 17 years of age.

Section 5

Protection of mentally impaired persons.

Section 6

Soliciting or importuning for purposes of commission of sexual offence.

Section 7

Soliciting or importuning for purposes of prostitution.

Section 8

Loitering for purposes of prostitution.

Section 9

Organisation of prostitution.

Section 10

Living on earnings of prostitution.

Section 11

Brothel keeping.

Section 12

Amendment of section 19 of Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1935 (search of brothels).

Section 13

Powers of arrest.

Section 14

Repeals.

Section 15

Short title and collective citation.

SCHEDULE Enactments Repealed Acts Referred to Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1885 48 & 49 Vict., c. 69 Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1912 2 & 3 Geo. 5, c. 20 Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1935 1935, No. 6 Criminal Law Amendment Acts, 1885 to 1935 Dublin Police Act, 1842 5 & 6 Vict., c. 24 Offences against the Person Act, 1861 24 & 25 Vict., c. 100 Towns Improvement (Ireland) Act, 1854 17 & 18 Vict., c. 103 Town Police Clauses Act, 1847 10 & 11 Vict., c. 89 Vagrancy Act, 1898 61 & 62 Vict., c. 39 Number 20 of 1993 CRIMINAL LAW (SEXUAL OFFENCES) ACT, 1993 AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW IN RELATION TO SEXUAL OFFENCES AND FOR THAT PURPOSE TO AMEND THE OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON ACT, 1861 , IN RELATION TO BUGGERY; TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL LAW AMENDMENT ACTS, 1885 TO 1935; TO REPEAL THE VAGRANCY ACT, 1898, AND CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF CERTAIN OTHER ENACTMENTS RELATING TO SEXUAL OFFENCES AND TO PROVIDE FOR CONNECTED MATTERS. [7th July, 1993] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:

Interpretation.

1.—(1) In this Act— “motor vehicle” means a mechanically propelled vehicle intended or adapted for use on roads; “public place” means any place to which the public have access whether as of right or by permission and whether subject to or free of charge; “solicits or importunes” includes soliciting or importuning from or in a motor vehicle, and cognate words shall be construed accordingly; “street” includes any road, bridge, lane, footway, subway, square, court, alley or passsage, whether a thoroughfare or not, which is for the time being open to the public; and the doorways, entrances and gardens abutting on a street and any ground or car-park adjoining and open to a street, shall be treated as forming part of a street.

(2)In this Act a person solicits or importunes for the purposes of prostitution where the person— (a) offers his or her services as a prostitute to another person, (b) solicits or importunes another person for the purpose of obtaining that other person’s services as a prostitute, or (c) solicits or importunes another person on behalf of a person for the purposes of prostitution.

(3)In this Act references to sexual intercourse shall be construed as references to carnal knowledge as defined in section 63 of the Offences against the Person Act, 1861 .

(4)In this Act and in any other enactment, whether passed before or after this Act, a reference to a prostitute includes a reference to a male person who is a prostitute and a reference to prostitution shall be construed accordingly.

(5)In this Act a reference to a subsection is a reference to the subsection of the provision in which the reference occurs unless it is indicated that reference to some other provision is intended.

Abolition of offence of buggery between persons.

2.—Subject to sections 3 and 5 of this Act, any rule of law by virtue of which buggery between persons is an offence is hereby abolished.

Buggery of persons under 17 years of age.

3.—A person who commits or attempts to commit an act of buggery with a person under the age of 17 years (other than a person to whom he is married or to whom he believes with reasonable cause he is married) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction on indictment to— (a) in the case of an act of buggery with a person under the age of 15 years, imprisonment for life, (b) in the case of an attempt to commit an act of buggery with a person under the age of 15 years, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years in the case of a first conviction, and in the case of a second or any subsequent conviction imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, (c) in the case of an act of buggery with a person of or over the age of 15 years and under the age of 17 years, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years in the case of a first conviction, and in the case of a second or any subsequent conviction imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, and (d) in the case of an attempt to commit an act of buggery with a person of or over the age of 15 years and under the age of 17 years, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years in the case of a first conviction, and in the case of a second or any subsequent conviction imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years.

Gross indecency with males under 17 years of age.

4.—A male person who commits or attempts to commit an act of gross indecency with another male person under the age of 17 years shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.

Protection of mentally impaired persons.

5.—(1) A person who— (a) has or attempts to have sexual intercourse, or (b) commits or attempts to commit an act of buggery, with a person who is mentally impaired (other than a person to whom he is married or to whom he believes with reasonable cause he is married) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction on indictment to— (i) in the case of having sexual intercourse or committing an act of buggery, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years, and (ii) in the case of an attempt to have sexual intercourse or an attempt to commit an act of buggery, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years in the case of a first conviction, and in the case of a second or any subsequent conviction imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years.

(2)A male person who commits or attempts to commit an act of gross indecency with another male person who is mentally impaired shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.

(3)In any proceedings under this section it shall be a defence for the accused to show that at the time of the alleged commission of the offence he did not know and had no reason to suspect that the person in respect of whom he is charged was mentally impaired.

(4)Proceedings against a person charged with an offence under this section shall not be taken except by or with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

(5)In this section “mentally impaired” means suffering from a disorder of the mind, whether through mental handicap or mental illness, which is of such a nature or degree as to render a person incapable of living an independent life or of guarding against serious exploitation.

Soliciting or importuning for purposes of commission of sexual offence.

6.—A person who solicits or importunes another person for the purposes of the commission of an act which would constitute an offence under section 3 , 4 or 5 of this Act or section 1 or 2 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1935 , shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.

Soliciting or importuning for purposes of prostitution.

7.—A person who in a street or public place solicits or importunes another person or other persons for the purposes of prostitution shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding— (a) £250, in the case of a first conviction, (b) £500, in the case of a second conviction, or (c) £500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 4 weeks or to both, in the case of a third or any subsequent conviction.

Loitering for purposes of prostitution.

8.—(1) A member of the Garda Síochána who has reasonable cause to suspect that a person is loitering in a street or public place in order to solicit or importune another person or other persons for the purposes of prostitution may direct that person to leave immediately that street or public place.

(2)A person who without reasonable cause fails to comply with a direction under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding— (a) £250, in the case of a first conviction, (b) £500, in the case of a second conviction, or (c) £500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 4 weeks or to both, in the case of a third or any subsequent conviction.

(3)In this section “loitering” includes loitering in a motor vehicle.

Organisation of prostitution.

9.—A person who for gain— (a) controls or directs the activities of a prostitute in respect of prostitution, (b) organises prostitution by controlling or directing the activities of more than one prostitute for that purpose, or (c) compels or coerces a person to be a prostitute, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable— (i) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both, or (ii) on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding £10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both.

Living on earnings of prostitution.

10.—(1) A person who knowingly lives in whole or in part on the earnings of the prostitution of another person and aids and abets that prostitution shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

(2)If a judge of the District Court is satisfied on the sworn information of a member of the Garda Síochána not below the rank of sergeant that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that any premises or any part of a premises is used by a person for the purposes of prostitution, and that any person residing in or frequenting the premises or part of the premises is living in whole or in part on the earnings of the prostitution of another person, he may issue a warrant under his hand authorising any member of the Garda Síochána, accompanied by other members of the Garda Síochána, at any time or times within one month from the date of issue of the warrant, on production if so requested of the warrant, to enter, if need be by force, and search the premises and arrest that person.

(3)A person who obstructs or interferes with a member of the Garda Síochána acting under the authority of a warrant under subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.

Brothel keeping.

11.—A person who— (a) keeps or manages or acts or assists in the management of a brothel, (b) being the tenant, lessee, occupier or person in charge of a premises, knowingly permits such premises or any part thereof to be used as a brothel or for the purposes of habitual prostitution, or (c) being the lessor or landlord of any premises or the agent of such lessor or landlord, lets such premises or any part thereof with the knowledge that such premises or some part thereof are or is to be used as a brothel, or is wilfully a party to the continued use of such premises or any part thereof as a brothel, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable— (i) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both, or (ii) on conviction on indictment to a fine not exceeding £10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years or to both.

Amendment of section 19 of Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1935 (search of brothels).

12.—

Section 19

of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1935 , is hereby amended by— (a) the substitution of “sergeant” for “inspector” in each place it occurs, and (b) the substitution in subsection (4) of “£500” for “five pounds”.

Powers of arrest.

13.—(1) If a member of the Garda Síochána reasonably suspects that a person has committed an offence under section 4 , 6 , 7 , 8

(2)or 10

(3)of this Act he may— (a) arrest that person without warrant, or (b) require him to give his name and address and, if the person fails or refuses to do so or gives a name or address that the member reasonably suspects to be false or misleading, the member may arrest that person without warrant.

(2)A person who fails or refuses to give his name or address when required under subsection (1), or gives a name or address which is false or misleading, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £500.

Repeals.

14.—The enactments specified in column (2) of the Schedule to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent specified in column (3) of that Schedule.

Short title and collective citation.

15.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act, 1993.

(2)The Criminal Law Amendment Acts, 1885 to 1935, and this Act may be cited together as the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Acts, 1885 to 1993.

SCHEDULE Enactments Repealed

Section 14

Session and Chapter or Year and Number Short Title Extent of Repeal

(1)

(2)

(3)5 & 6 Vict., c. 24 Dublin Police Act, 1842 Paragraph 11 of section 14.

10 & 11 Vict., c. 89 Town Police Clauses Act, 1847 In section 28 the words “Every common Prostitute or Nightwalker loitering and importuning Passengers for the Purpose of Prostitution:”.

17 & 18 Vict., c. 103 Towns Improvement (Ireland) Act, 1854 In section 72 the words “Every common Prostitute or Nightwalker loitering and importuning Passengers for the Purpose of Prostitution, or being otherwise offensive, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding Forty Shillings:”.

24 & 25 Vict., c. 100 Offences against the Person Act, 1861 Sections 61 and 62 (save in so far as they apply to buggery or attempted buggery with animals).

48 & 49 Vict., c. 69 Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1885

Section 11.

61 & 62 Vict., c. 39 Vagrancy Act, 1898 The whole Act.

2 & 3 Geo. 5, c. 20 Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1912 Sections 3 and 7.

1935, No. 6 Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1935 Sections 4 , 13 and 16 .

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