Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997
Syringe, etc., attacks.
6.— (1) A person who—
( a) injures another by piercing the skin of that other with a syringe, or
( b) threatens to so injure another with a syringe,
with the intention of or where there is a likelihood of causing that other to believe that he or she may become infected with disease as a result of the injury caused or threatened shall be guilty of an offence.
(2) A person who—
( a) sprays, pours or puts onto another blood or any fluid or substance resembling blood, or
( b) threatens to spray, pour or put onto another blood or any fluid or substance resembling blood,
with the intention of or where there is a likelihood of causing that other to believe that he or she may become infected with disease as a result of the action caused or threatened shall be guilty of an offence.
(3) A person who in committing or attempting to commit an offence under subsection ( 1) or ( 2)—
( a) injures a third person with a syringe by piercing his or her skin, or
( b) sprays, pours or puts onto a third person blood or any fluid or substance resembling blood,
resulting in the third person believing that he or she may become infected with disease as a result of the injury or action caused shall be guilty of an offence.
(4) A person guilty of an offence under subsection ( 1), ( 2) or ( 3) shall be liable—
( a) on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,500 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both, or
( b) on conviction on indictment to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or to both.
(5) ( a) A person who intentionally injures another by piercing the skin of that other with a contaminated syringe shall be guilty of an offence.
( b) A person who intentionally sprays, pours or puts onto another contaminated blood shall be guilty of an offence.
( c) A person who in committing or attempting to commit an offence under paragraph ( a) or ( b)—
(i) injures a third person with a contaminated syringe by piercing his or her skin, or
(ii) sprays, pours or puts onto a third person contaminated blood,
shall be guilty of an offence.
( d) A person guilty of an offence under this subsection shall be liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for life.
Annotations:
Editorial Notes:
E7
A fine of £1,500 translates into a class C fine (€1,000 to €2,500) as provided (4.01.2011) by Fines Act 2010 (8/2010), s. 6(2) and table ref. no. 1, S.I. No. 662 of 2010.