Should pepper spray be legalised in Ireland? Senator calls for revision of ban

A debate is kicking off around whether or not pepper spray should be legalised for use by citizens in Ireland.

Anyone who is caught in possession of pepper spray in Ireland could face a prison sentence of up to five years, a fine, or both.

Senator Sharon Keogan recently spoke out about women’s safety in Ireland and how this self defence device should be available in modern society.

“Women don’t feel safe on the streets anymore, whether they’re out in numbers, small groups, or even walking alone,” she told Newstalk's Lunchtime Live.

“Pepper spray at this moment in time in Ireland is illegal under the 1925 legislation, so I think it's something that could be looked at.”

She went on to talk about the current headlines that highlight a very scary situation at the moment for women in this country and also shows why many people are feeling unsafe.

“A teenager was remanded in detention with consent to bail over a sexual assault on a woman,” she said.

“Gardaí launched a probe after a visitor was allegedly sexually assaulted in a hospital.

"A woman was beaten by a man who tried to sexually assault her at a concert.

“Certainly, women are feeling vulnerable at this time; Ireland is changing, our demographic is changing and everyone needs to feel safe on our streets.”

While Senator Keogan is pushing for the ban to be reconsidered, it is raising concern among others about the chaos that could ensue if absolutely anyone could have access to the noxious spray.

Elaine from Dublin spoke on Newstalk and said that while pepper spray is "useful," it should only be used by Gardaí, not people on the streets.

“If everybody who was feeling jittery had access to it without any kind of training or licence, you might as well be letting people walk down the road with any weapon,” she said.

“I think it's normal for people to feel apprehensive if they're somewhere they're not familiar with or if they're out and feel things aren't safe.

"They get that kind of hair-standing-up-on-the-back-of-the-neck feeling - but I do believe it's everyone's responsibility to know what to do in that situation and either avoid getting into it or know how to get out of it.”

There was also a suggestion on the show that people who want to carry pepper spray should have to complete a self-defence course in order to obtain one.

While being able to carry pepper spray would make many women feel safe while they're out alone, knowing how to use the device properly is also so important to avoid injury.

We want to know your thoughts on the topic, let us know over on social media.

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