Christian George
The Irish Government is set to consider new legislation this week that would effectively prohibit violent pornography, including content depicting strangulation and other extreme sexual acts.
Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, is expected to seek Cabinet approval for proposals that would make it illegal to possess, produce, or distribute pornography showing extreme or violent acts, as well as material involving necrophilia.
The planned law would apply to videos showing real-life acts of extreme violence or abuse and would also extend to sexually explicit content created through artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
The move comes after the High Court recently exposed a gap in existing Irish law, ruling that there is currently no offence covering the possession of extreme pornographic material in the State. The issue emerged following two extradition requests linked to alleged possession of bestiality-related content.
O’Callaghan’s proposal aims to close this legal loophole while responding to concerns within the Department of Justice about the potential harm caused by widespread access to violent pornography.
“There is growing recognition that violent and extreme pornography is now one of the most influential, accessible, and commercially powerful forces negatively shaping sexual development and behaviour,” said O’Callaghan.
“I will introduce a new offence that will criminalise the possession of extreme and violent pornography.”
The Council of Europe describes extreme or violent pornography as material that graphically depicts scenes of “degradation, sexual violence, torture, murder, necrophilia or bestiality for the purposes of sexual arousal”.
Its parliamentary assembly has previously urged member states to establish laws criminalising the production, distribution and possession of violent or extreme pornography, including material held for personal use.
An Garda Síochána informed the Department of Justice last year that there had been a “significant” rise in cases involving child-on-child online sexual abuse.
Growing concerns have also been expressed over the impact of violent pornography on young people, particularly boys and men. Groups including Women’s Aid have warned that children may face increased risks of fatal strangulation due to exposure to so-called “choking” or “breath-play” pornography.
The proposed legislation is expected to prohibit the possession, production, or sharing of pornography that depicts non-fatal strangulation or suffocation resulting in serious harm, acts that are already recognised as criminal offences under Irish law.
O’Callaghan is also expected to use Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union to push for a common definition and coordinated approach to tackling extreme and violent pornography across EU member states, potentially through new EU-wide legislation.
