O'Rourke calls for protocol to address drink spiking issue

A local councillor has expressed his "growing concern" on suspected drink spiking and called for a proper pathway for the issue to be "recorded as a distinct category by An Garda Síochána".

Cllr Aengus O'Rourke raised the issue at the monthly meeting of Athlone-Moate Municipal District, his motion calling on the Minister for Health and Minister for Justice "to make a case for them to establish, across our hospitals and within An Garda Siochána, a proper pathway to deal with suspected drink spiking when a victim presents with obvious symptoms and claims to have been spiked".

The Fianna Fáil councillor also called on the Government to "set out the current protocols in place where a patient presents at an emergency department and report suspected drink spiking”.

Cllr O'Rourke said he was aware that drink spiking "particularly amongst young people on nights out" was increasing. He explained that when such incidents were reported to Gardai they were not recorded as a "distinct category" by the Gardaí.

“When someone believes they have been spiked, they enter a system that is fragmented, inconsistent, and unclear. Incidents may be logged under assault, poisoning, or sexual offences, but that masks the true scale of the issue.

“Without clear categorisation, we cannot measure the problem, allocate resources, or design effective prevention," he stated.

Cllr O'Rourke said there was a "no defined medical pathway" for a person who reports to a hospital with the belief that their drink has been spiked.

“When a person presents at an emergency department with suspected spiking, there is no standardised clinical protocol across the Health Service Executive.

"Time is critical. Many substances leave the body quickly, yet toxicology screening is not routinely or immediately carried out. Patients are treated for symptoms, but the opportunity to identify substances and gather evidence is often lost," Cllr O'Rourke stressed.

Cllr O'Rourke said drink spiking incidents are having a "dramatic impact on victims and families".

“Victims describe feeling disbelieved, unsupported, and left in a ‘grey area’ between health and justice systems. Families are left without answers - what happened? Was a crime committed? Is there evidence?

“This undermines public confidence in both healthcare and policing responses," he added.

“We need a clear, joined-up pathway between hospitals and Gardaí and I am calling on the Government to put in place the necessary protocols to ensure that this is the case. That pathway should include immediate clinical assessment and toxicology sampling where appropriate, clear guidance on evidence preservation and a defined reporting mechanism to Gardaí," Cllr O'Rourke stated.

“If we don’t measure it, we can’t manage it. This is not about creating bureaucracy. It’s about ensuring that when someone seeks help, the system knows exactly what to do. Right now, people are falling between two stools and that is something we can fix," Cllr O'Rourke stated.

Cllr Vinny McCormack said he was unaware that no protocols were in place to deal with drink spiking cases.

"Drink spiking is a serious personal infringement and an ordeal to go through for the person impacted. I believe that if the issue is raised with the Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan he will look favourably on it," Cllr McCormack said.

Cllr Frankie Keena said it was "crucial" that the source of the drink spiking issue was addressed.

"Pub and night club owners should be contacted and made aware of the seriousness of this situation. We have to stamp out those individuals who are spiking drinks," Cllr Keena added.