IE
(LRC Revised)
Statutory Text (1 Articles)
Number 10 of 1981
CRIMINAL LAW (RAPE) ACT 1981
REVISED
Updated to 31 August 2024
Changes to legislation
as of 10 July 2026, this Act is up to date with all changes known to be in force.
This Revised Act is an
administrative consolidation of the
Criminal Law (Rape) Act 1981
. It is prepared
by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under the
Law Reform
Commission Act 1975
(3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake
revision and consolidation of statute law.
All Acts up to and including the
Courts, Civil Law, Criminal Law and
Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024
(30/2024), enacted 23 July
2024, and all statutory instruments up to and including the
Criminal Law (Sexual
Offences and Human Trafficking) Act 2024 (Commencement) Order 2024
(S.I. No. 391
of 2024), made 31 July 2024, were considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.
Disclaimer: While every care has
been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act, the Law Reform Commission can assume
no responsibility for and give no guarantees, undertakings or warranties concerning
the
accuracy, completeness or up to date nature of the information provided and does not
accept any liability whatsoever arising from any errors or omissions. Please notify
any
errors, omissions and comments by email to
revisedacts@lawreform.ie.
Number
10
of
1981
CRIMINAL LAW (RAPE) ACT 1981
REVISED
Updated to 31 August
2024
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section
1.
Interpretation.
2.
Meaning of “
rape
”.
3.
Restrictions
on evidence at trials for rape offences.
4.
Proceedings under
Part IA of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1967.
4A.
Legal
representation for complainants.
5.
Trials of
juveniles.
6.
Exclusion of
the public from hearings.
7.
Anonymity of
complainants.
8.
Anonymity of
accused.
9.
Trials by
court-martial.
10.
Punishment of
indecent assault on female.
(Repealed)
11.
Penalty for
publication of unauthorised matter.
12.
Summary
jurisdiction.
13.
Short title
and commencement.
Acts Referred to
Children Act, 1908
1908, c. 67
Children Act, 1941
1941, No. 12
Criminal Justice Act, 1951
1951, No. 2
Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1935
1935, No. 6
Criminal Procedure Act, 1967
1967, No. 12
Offences against the Person Act,
1861
1861, c. 100
Summary Jurisdiction over Children
(Ireland) Act, 1884
1884, c. 19
Number
10
of
1981
CRIMINAL LAW (RAPE) ACT 1981
REVISED
Updated to 31 August
2024
AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO
RAPE AND INDECENT ASSAULT ON FEMALES. [6
th May
, 1981]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS
FOLLOWS
Annotations
Editorial Notes
E1
Provision for special
treatment of child offences under Act made (1.05.2002) by
Children Act 2001
(24/2001), ss. 251, 253-256 and sch. 1, S.I. No. 151 of 2002.
Annotations
Editorial Notes
E1
Provision for special
treatment of child offences under Act made (1.05.2002) by
Children Act 2001
(24/2001), ss. 251, 253-256 and sch. 1, S.I. No. 151 of 2002.
Section
1.
Interpretation.
2.
Meaning of “
rape
”.
3.
Restrictions
on evidence at trials for rape offences.
4.
Proceedings under
Part IA of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1967.
4A.
Legal
representation for complainants.
5.
Trials of
juveniles.
6.
Exclusion of
the public from hearings.
7.
Anonymity of
complainants.
8.
Anonymity of
accused.
9.
Trials by
court-martial.
10.
Punishment of
indecent assault on female.
(Repealed)
11.
Penalty for
publication of unauthorised matter.
12.
Summary
jurisdiction.
13.
Short title
and commencement.
Number
10
of
1981