4 mins
BUGGER OFF
The Criminal Law in Ireland Today
In Ireland today all contact of a sexual nature between males is illegal and “wrongdoers” are liable to arrest, charge and imprisoment.
The present anti-gay laws are contained in two old English statutes, both over 100 years old, which, although repealed in all parts of the U.K., still remain in full force and effect in the Republic of Ireland.
These crimes are: —
Buggery: Contrary to S.61 of the Offences Against the Person Act, 1861, which carries a maximum sentence of penal servitude for life. This penalty applies even where this “abominable crime” is commited between consenting adults in private.
Gross Indecency: Contrary to S.11 of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 1885, which carries a sentence of two years imprisonment. This covers all other sexual contact and is commonly known as “the laying on of hands”.
A similar view is taken by the Roman Catholic Church which permits one male to love another as his neighbour, but not in a permanent relationship. Thus it is that we are criminals and sinners, doomed to imprisonment in this life and eternal damnation in the next. This line of approach is illogical, unrealistic and totally unacceptable.
Why do we want these laws changed? What adults do in private is their own business, and who has the right to impose their moral values on someone else, especially where the parties are consenting, are adult, and where no-one is being hurt? However, there are other reasons too. The most basic and fundamental problem of any gay person is that of trying to come to terms with his/her sexuality and having done that, to live, what is for him/her, a normal, productive and happy life in society. The difficulty is with people’s uneducated and intolerant views towards homosexuality. It is difficult enough for any gay person to shake off the shackles of a conditioned up-bringing in Ireland today, all the more so for a non-gay person to feel or understand what it is to be gay. Non-gays should not criticize what they do not understand, but learn to accept what is different, and equally good. So the main difficulty in living a gay lifestyle is the lack of understanding and the poor attitude of society in general.
In order to improve the lot of gay people, it is necessary to improve the perception of gays in the eyes of society. Efforts are being made, and are continuing towards this end. People in general, and in many cases gay themselves, must be informed that a large number of gay people exist in every society, that they are the same as everyone else except in their sexual orientation and that they do not conform to the stereotype of “pansey” or child molester in a trench coat. Coverage in the media of gay activities, gay publications and the various gay groups have all helped to raise the profile of gay people. The fact that gays are regarded as criminals in the eyes of the law lends credence to the anti-gay attitudes of many people. It is for this reason that political and legal pressure is being brought to bear with a view to having these laws changed. This has included recent election of David Norris to the Senate. Tonie Walshe running as an independent candidate in the local elections, lobbying of political parties and supporting other groups with similar goals to our own. By far the most direct challenge to these laws has been the Norris case in the High Court, subsequently appealed to the Supremem Court, where three of the five judges found that these laws were not inconsistant with the constitution. This case has since been brought to the European Court of Human Rights, where it is claimed that the laws are in breach of Article 8 of the Convention, the right to privacy. The case has been there for about two years and will probably take another year. It seems that the Irish Government will be found to be in breach of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as was the British Government a few years ago when Jeff Dudgeon in Northern Ireland successfully brought a similar case against them. This would not automatically change the law here, but it would mean that the Irish Government would feel morally bound to change the law, as happened in Northern Ireland.
The relevant question would then be what would replace these laws. In the U.K. the new laws are very restrictive and to stay within them a couple must be over twenty-one, consenting, and in a locked bedroom. Threesomes are out. This has also meant a much more rigorous enforcement of the law and the use of ‘pretty’ police officers to entrap people in public toilets. In Ireland, the call is for homosexual relationships to be put on a par in all respects with heterosexual relationships, including the age of consent. In order to be able to influence any profound changes in our laws we must be in a position to apply direct and indirect pressure on our politicians. All gay people, and others who support our just call for equality are asked to do their bit for this worthy cause. Examples of what can be done include:
1: Becoming members of political parties and attempting to change policies from within.
2: Campaigning through trade unions.
3: Writing letters to newspapers supporting gay issues and complaining where anti-gay articles are printed.
4: Perhaps the best way is to join the Political Action Group of the National Gay Federation which operates from the Hirschfield Centre.
In the final analysis, the test will be whether or not we will be able to change the thinking of enough politicians. We already have Senator Norris on our side, can you help us to get more?