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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 Feb 1962

Vol. 193 No. 2

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sale of Flick-Knives.

127.

asked the Minister for Justice if he proposes to take any steps to prevent the sale and carrying by persons of flick knives.

Special inquiries were made recently from the Garda Síochána throughout the State in connection with this matter. These inquiries established that flick-knives are not carried to any significant extent and that where knives have been used in the commission of crime they were almost entirely knives of other types.

Even in the very few cases in which flick-knives have been used, there is no reasonable assurance that a ban on them would have made a difference as those concerned could have equipped themselves with other knives.

It is the practice of the Garda Síochána to institute proceedings against persons found in possession of flick-knives where the evidence points to their being carried with criminal intent.

Is there any commercial use for flick-knives, and if not, is there any reason why they should be admitted to the country?

Generally speaking, it can be taken that the flick-knife is an offensive weapon and really nothing more. However, the argument for banning flick-knives is not as strong as it might be because it is almost certain that if the person concerned had not a flick-knife available to him, he would procure another type of knife and really one type of knife is as bad as another.

If the weapon is used for illegal purposes, it would be a very simple thing to ban it. At least, it is worth trying. Will the Minister not consider it?

The question has been considered on a number of occasions and it was felt that any benefit that would accrue from administering the measures necessary to enforce such a provision would be completely outweighed by the difficulties, particularly, as I say, when the flick-knife is no more harmful than any other type of knife.

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