Offences Against the State Act 1939
Unlawful organisations.
18.—In order to regulate and control in the public interest the exercise of the constitutional right of citizens to form associations, it is hereby declared that any organisation which—
(a) engages in, promotes, encourages, or advocates the commission of treason or any activity of a treasonable nature, or
(b) advocates, encourages, or attempts the procuring by force, violence, or other unconstitutional means of an alteration of the Constitution, or
(c) raises or maintains or attempts to raise or maintain a military or armed force in contravention of the Constitution or without constitutional authority, or
(d) engages in, promotes, encourages, or advocates the commission of any criminal offence or the obstruction of or interference with the administration of justice or the enforcement of the law, or
(e) engages in, promotes, encourages, or advocates the attainment of any particular object, lawful or unlawful, by violent, criminal, or other unlawful means, or
(f) promotes, encourages, or advocates the non-payment of moneys payable to the Central Fund or any other public fund or the non-payment of local taxation,
shall be an unlawful organisation within the meaning and for the purposes of this Act, and this Act shall apply and have effect in relation to such organisation accordingly.
Annotations
Modifications (not altering text):
C7
Definition of unlawful organisation extended (8.03.2005) by Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 (2/2005), s. 5, commenced on enactment.
Terrorist groups.
5.—(1) A terrorist group that engages in, promotes, encourages or advocates the commission, in or outside the State, of a terrorist activity is an unlawful organisation within the meaning and for the purposes of the Offences against the State Acts 1939 to 1998 and section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1976.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, the Offences against the State Acts 1939 to 1998 and section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1976 apply with any necessary modifications and have effect in relation to a terrorist group referred to in subsection (1) as if that group were an organisation referred to in section 18 of the Act of 1939.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) are not to be taken to be limited by any other provision of this Act that refers to provisions of the Offences against the State Acts 1939 to 1998 or that makes provisions of those Acts applicable in relation to offences under this Act.
(4) Subsections (1) and (2) apply whether the terrorist group is based in or outside the State.