Knife laws in Ireland?

Leviathan Arms

Leviathan Arms

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Joined
Feb 29, 2012
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Hello folks ! Potentially taking a trip to Ireland and wondering if anyone can provide a quick rundown on knife carry laws or any other tips. Thanks!
 
It has been a while since I visited, and it will depend a lot on where you are. Check the wording yourself, but here are some highlights:
1. valid reason, so a fixed blade if you are trekking, a small folder with your utensils if on a picnic, a SAK or something in a backpack if you are just touristing around, and you'll probably be fine.
2. watch where you are, plan around where you are going to be. Don't carry anything if you plan on pub crawling
3. EDC is different there, so again, have at least some reason and have the knife make sense. You'll do better with small slippies or similar, and carry in a bag rather than a pocket when possible.
The rural areas are very different than central Dublin, and there are tourist centers that are going to have a different view than others. Places like Killala and Ballina are very small town feeling. But since you can cover most of the country in just a few hours, it's worth knowing what's in your pockets before you start hitting the clubs late.
Personally, I carried stuff I was willing to replace (SAK, Opinel) and was relying on the good will of my Canadian passport at the time to just be a "sorry officer" if anything came up.
 
From the "Irish Legal Blog" -- https://legalblog.ie/knives-offensive-weapons/

The first paragraph states ---

Where a person has a knife or other article which has a blade or which is sharply pointed, in a public place, he is guilty of an offence. It is a defence if the person charged proves that he had the same with good reason or lawful authority including, for example, for work or recreational purposes.

What you carry when not in the public eye is not covered in the legal blog.
 
Most of Europe and UK knife laws give law enforcement broad options, and citizens have many options to demonstrate they are acting within the law. About 1/2 of Italian men carry pocket knives for self-defense. Most of them are stiletto autos. It is illegal to carry a knife in Italy. But if you get caught somehow, the officer just wants to be paid off.

So, you say, "Officer, I can tell you are a kind and reasonable man. You must also then have nice children. Take this and buy them something they will be happy with."

The officer says, "And likewise to you. I'm sure you just made a foolish error. How many of us do that from time to time? We can be friends, you and me. Just be more careful. Most of the delinquent youth could poke you 5 times before you even got your blade out. I appreciate your concern for my children's happiness. My heart is touched. Now, my friend, take this blade home and leave it there."

"Of course. Your word to me, 'friend', is reassuring. Thank you and good evening."

In Sweden, "Oh, officer, please forgive me. I was cutting packing tape earlier, and inadvertantly placed the blade in my trousers."

"It has your initials on it."

"Please, if I could explain. I apologize. The identification markings are to prevent it from being mistaken for another's."

"Do you think you can fool me?"


"Perish the thought. Do you live alone?"

"Don't we all?"

"Please make a few moments, and let me get us coffee to share. It's not often I have the good fortune of meeting a man of your excellent character and independent strength. Perhaps some could rub off on me."

"It would be refreshing to share company with an honest, hardworking and polite man such as yourself."

So, everywhere overseas has its own customs to admit the wrong, create good relations between law enforcement and the community, for the officer to obtain something for himself, for the subject to keep his property, and for the 2 to politely part ways with the understanding that the illegal act will not be repeated.

In Japan, no matter what a man is charged with, and whether he is guilty or innocent, he can admit he did the crime. He'll get a good talking to by the judge, incuding possible consequences from the Shinto gods, and that they show him mercy. Then the accused is free to leave.

This applies to nonviolent crime without significant economic losses to the injured party. Laws in Asia make no sense to Western people. In Singapore the death penalty is imposed for possession of pornography. A beating with a cane, by a martial artist, is imposed for spitting chewing gum on the pavement.

In China, the sentence for many crimes is for the police to weld shut the doors and windows in a residence so the family living there will die of hunger and thirst. The Chinese government performs a million executions per year.

Mass killings by knife attack are common. And possession of a knife outside the home can get you 3 years in prison.

In Poland a man was imprisoned for 2 years, because he sent an email to the peesident with the word 'penis' in it. Also in poland, Winne the Pooh was offically banned from being a school mascot, because it doesn't wear pants.
 
awesome14 said:
Most of Europe and UK knife laws give law enforcement broad options, and citizens have many options to demonstrate they are acting within the law. About 1/2 of Italian men carry pocket knives for self-defense. Most of them are stiletto autos. It is illegal to carry a knife in Italy. But if you get caught somehow, the officer just wants to be paid off.

So, you say, "Officer, I can tell you are a kind and reasonable man. You must also then have nice children. Take this and buy them something they will be happy with."

The officer says, "And likewise to you. I'm sure you just made a foolish error. How many of us do that from time to time? We can be friends, you and me. Just be more careful. Most of the delinquent youth could poke you 5 times before you even got your blade out. I appreciate your concern for my children's happiness. My heart is touched. Now, my friend, take this blade home and leave it there."

"Of course. Your word to me, 'friend', is reassuring. Thank you and good evening."

In Sweden, "Oh, officer, please forgive me. I was cutting packing tape earlier, and inadvertantly placed the blade in my trousers."

"It has your initials on it."

"Please, if I could explain. I apologize. The identification markings are to prevent it from being mistaken for another's."

"Do you think you can fool me?"


"Perish the thought. Do you live alone?"

"Don't we all?"

"Please make a few moments, and let me get us coffee to share. It's not often I have the good fortune of meeting a man of your excellent character and independent strength. Perhaps some could rub off on me."

"It would be refreshing to share company with an honest, hardworking and polite man such as yourself."

So, everywhere overseas has its own customs to admit the wrong, create good relations between law enforcement and the community, for the officer to obtain something for himself, for the subject to keep his property, and for the 2 to politely part ways with the understanding that the illegal act will not be repeated.

In Japan, no matter what a man is charged with, and whether he is guilty or innocent, he can admit he did the crime. He'll get a good talking to by the judge, incuding possible consequences from the Shinto gods, and that they show him mercy. Then the accused is free to leave.

This applies to nonviolent crime without significant economic losses to the injured party. Laws in Asia make no sense to Western people. In Singapore the death penalty is imposed for possession of pornography. A beating with a cane, by a martial artist, is imposed for spitting chewing gum on the pavement.

In China, the sentence for many crimes is for the police to weld shut the doors and windows in a residence so the family living there will die of hunger and thirst. The Chinese government performs a million executions per year.

Mass killings by knife attack are common. And possession of a knife outside the home can get you 3 years in prison.

In Poland a man was imprisoned for 2 years, because he sent an email to the peesident with the word 'penis' in it. Also in poland, Winne the Pooh was offically banned from being a school mascot, because it doesn't wear pants.
Click to expand...
WTF did I just read? Tell us more about the Chinese
 
awesome14 said:
Most of Europe and UK knife laws give law enforcement broad options, and citizens have many options to demonstrate they are acting within the law. About 1/2 of Italian men carry pocket knives for self-defense. Most of them are stiletto autos. It is illegal to carry a knife in Italy. But if you get caught somehow, the officer just wants to be paid off.

So, you say, "Officer, I can tell you are a kind and reasonable man. You must also then have nice children. Take this and buy them something they will be happy with."

The officer says, "And likewise to you. I'm sure you just made a foolish error. How many of us do that from time to time? We can be friends, you and me. Just be more careful. Most of the delinquent youth could poke you 5 times before you even got your blade out. I appreciate your concern for my children's happiness. My heart is touched. Now, my friend, take this blade home and leave it there."

"Of course. Your word to me, 'friend', is reassuring. Thank you and good evening."

In Sweden, "Oh, officer, please forgive me. I was cutting packing tape earlier, and inadvertantly placed the blade in my trousers."

"It has your initials on it."

"Please, if I could explain. I apologize. The identification markings are to prevent it from being mistaken for another's."

"Do you think you can fool me?"


"Perish the thought. Do you live alone?"

"Don't we all?"

"Please make a few moments, and let me get us coffee to share. It's not often I have the good fortune of meeting a man of your excellent character and independent strength. Perhaps some could rub off on me."

"It would be refreshing to share company with an honest, hardworking and polite man such as yourself."

So, everywhere overseas has its own customs to admit the wrong, create good relations between law enforcement and the community, for the officer to obtain something for himself, for the subject to keep his property, and for the 2 to politely part ways with the understanding that the illegal act will not be repeated.

In Japan, no matter what a man is charged with, and whether he is guilty or innocent, he can admit he did the crime. He'll get a good talking to by the judge, incuding possible consequences from the Shinto gods, and that they show him mercy. Then the accused is free to leave.

This applies to nonviolent crime without significant economic losses to the injured party. Laws in Asia make no sense to Western people. In Singapore the death penalty is imposed for possession of pornography. A beating with a cane, by a martial artist, is imposed for spitting chewing gum on the pavement.

In China, the sentence for many crimes is for the police to weld shut the doors and windows in a residence so the family living there will die of hunger and thirst. The Chinese government performs a million executions per year.

Mass killings by knife attack are common. And possession of a knife outside the home can get you 3 years in prison.

In Poland a man was imprisoned for 2 years, because he sent an email to the peesident with the word 'penis' in it. Also in poland, Winne the Pooh was offically banned from being a school mascot, because it doesn't wear pants.
Click to expand...
Dear Awesome14, your post is "awesome". Please believe me, stiletto autos maybe were a little common in Southern Italy about 40 years ago. And maybe 10% people carried it. In each region there were typical knives, no autos.

And you opinion to talk to the policeman about friendship, his/her sons and try to pay off, is a big mistake. Maybe, again, this could happen in '50-'60 movies.
 
So wild man....reading these kinds of things gives me a deeper appreciation for where I live. Last interaction I had with a cop about knives was spring of last year, it was one of the few days I had decided to rock a fixed blade, so was carrying my Buck 119, officer noticed it and asked me about it as he was carrying a 110 auto on duty himself and was a fan of Buck, we spent about 10 minutes talking blades, ended up him giving me his card with his number on it as he wanted to buy my knife if I ever decided to sell it.
 
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