Alleged spiking incidents reported once every six days

According to new figures, alleged spiking incidents are reported to the police in Ireland once every six days on average. Between January 2021 and December 2025, there were 339 reported cases. In 2021 and 2025, there were 61 cases each year, 107 in 2022, 52 in 2023, and 58 in 2024. This averages out to 67 cases per year. Prior to 2021, an average of 19 cases per year were reported between 2017 and 2020.

Sinn Féin TD Mark Ward highlighted the issue, stating that these figures only represent the ones reported. Victim support groups have expressed concerns that many incidents go unreported. The Sexual Violence Centre in Cork emphasized that spiking is widespread in society, warning that the reported figures are just the tip of the iceberg and that there is a stigma attached to reporting spiking.

The Sexual Assault Treatment Unit reported that 19% of people who visited their units in 2025 were concerned that spiking was involved. Ward believes that new laws specifically addressing spiking may be necessary to tackle the issue. He noted that the lack of a standalone legislation for spiking offences and the absence of prosecutions in recent years is a concern. Ward called for the government to take the matter seriously, noting that Britain has recently introduced standalone legislation on the issue.