Number 26 of 1997
NON-FATAL OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON ACT, 1997
AN ACT TO REVISE THE LAW RELATING TO THE MAIN NON-FATAL OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON AND TO PROVIDE FOR CONNECTED MATTERS.[19th May, 1997]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:
Interpretation. 1.—(1) In this Act—
“contaminated blood” means blood which is contaminated with any disease, virus, agent or organism which if passed into the blood stream of another could infect the other with a life threatening or potentially life threatening disease;
“contaminated fluid” means fluid or substance which is contaminated with any disease, virus, agent or organism which if passed into the blood stream of another could infect the other with a life threatening or potentially life threatening disease;
“contaminated syringe” means a syringe which has in it or on it contaminated blood or contaminated fluid;
“harm” means harm to body or mind and includes pain and unconsciousness;
“member of the family” in relation to a person, means the spouse, a child (including step-child or adopted child), grandchild, parent, grandparent, step-parent, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, uncle, aunt, nephew or niece of the person or any person cohabiting or residing with him or her;
“property” means property of a tangible nature, whether real or personal, including money and animals that are capable of being stolen;
“public place” includes any street, seashore, park, land or field, highway and any other premises or place to which at the material time the public have or are permitted to have access, whether on payment or otherwise, and includes any train, vessel, aircraft or vehicle used for the carriage of persons for reward;
