Criminal Law Act 1976

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Criminal Law Act 1976

First Section 〉

Number 32 of 1976

CRIMINAL LAW ACT 1976

REVISED

Updated to 23 July 2026

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This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the Criminal Law Act 1976. 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 Development (Strategic Gas Reserve) Act 2026 (36/2026), enacted 23 July 2026, and all statutory instruments up to and including the EirGrid, Electricity and Turf (Amendment) Act 2022 (Section 10) Order 2026 (S.I. No. 385 of 2026), made 23 July 2026, 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.

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Number 32 of 1976

CRIMINAL LAW ACT 1976

REVISED

Updated to 23 July 2026

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

Section
1.	Definitions.
2.	Penalties for certain offences under Act of 1939.
3.	Incitement or invitation to join etc. an unlawful organisation.
4.	Amendment of section 25 of Act of 1939.
5.	Search warrants relating to commission of offences under Act of 1939 etc.
6.	Escape from custody.
7.	Power of Garda Síochána in relation to certain arrested persons.
8.	Power of Garda Síochána to search vehicles and persons in vehicles.
9.	Power to retain articles seized.
10.	Prohibition of possession of photographs etc. of certain buildings.
11.	Certain offences to be felonies.
12.	Prohibition of giving certain false information.
13.	Offence committed while serving sentence.
14.	Restriction of meaning of “document” in sections 13 and 14 of Act of 1939.
15.	Power of Defence Forces to arrest and search in certain circumstances.
16.	Short title and application.

Acts Referred to
State Act, 1939	1939, No. 13
Defence Act, 1954	1954, No. 18
Prisons Act, 1970	1970, No. 11.
Prisons Act, 1972	1972, No. 7.
Explosive Substances Act, 1883	1883, c. 3.
Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act, 1976	1976, No. 14.
Person Act, 1861	1861, c. 100.
Larceny Act, 1916	1916, c. 50.
Air Navigation and Transport Act, 1973	1973, No. 29.
Police (Property) Act, 1897	1897, c. 30.
Criminal Justice Act, 1951	1951, No. 2.

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Number 32 of 1976

CRIMINAL LAW ACT 1976

REVISED

Updated to 23 July 2026

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CRIMINAL LAW. [24th September, 1976]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: