‘Social media frenzy’ exaggerating ‘date rape’ problem

“A social media frenzy” is exaggerating the problem of “date rape” attacks where young women are being stuck with needles in nightclubs, according to one of Laois’s senior gardaí.

At today’s meeting of the Laois Joint Policing Committee, Garda Superintendent John Lawless acknowledged that while such attacks have happened, none have been reported within the county.

The issue was raised at the meeting by Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley, who spoke of the “date rape spiking of young people”, and young women in particular, when they’re out socialising.

She said she was sure everyone was aware of the reports recently of some clubs, mainly  in Dublin, where people are sticking needles into the victims.

“It’s no longer the case where they’re putting it into their drink, they’re actually coming up to them in a nightclub,” she said, going on to ask whether there were any traces of this happening in Laois.

“I would hate to see anything like that taking off. With the drink, we can urge the young people to be careful and make sure that they’re watching their drink. But if someone is coming up to them and sticking them, that’s a very dangerous situation.”

Superintendent Lawless said that, thankfully, there have been no incidents reported in Laois.

“The evidence is that it’s not as common as what’s being portrayed in social media, but it is a serious problem. It is something that’s happened, not so much in this country but in the UK, but it hasn’t happened in Laois,” said Supt Lawless.

He referred to the recent statement on the matter by the HSE, as emergency departments were being inundated and the HSE has asked people not to attend unless the case is genuine.

“There’s a social media frenzy around it, but that’s not to in any way minimise it.
If it happens here, there’s plenty of legislation to deal with it,” said Supt Lawless.

Cllr Aisling Moran said that the student union in Carlow IT has put staff in yellow vests in certain pubs, who are able to help anyone who fears they may have been spiked.

To this, Supt Lawless said: “We have to look back to personal responsibility and to people themselves.

“When they go out, they go in a group and look out for each other. I know people say you shouldn’t have to do this but, unfortunately, we have to.

“People need to take seriously what they can do to protect their friends and protect themselves as well.”