Una Ring and Eve McDowell: 'We have taken our power back'

Una Ring: 'It’s a proud day. I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved so far and hopefully this legislation will go through quickly.' File picture: Larry Cummins.

The two women who are spearheading a campaign for a specific stalking offence in Irish law say they feel they have “taken their power back” after legislation was introduced in the Seanad to make it a standalone criminal offence.

Una Ring and Eve McDowell were in the Seanad on Wednesday as Fianna Fáil Seanad leader Lisa Chambers introduced the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Stalking (Amendment) Bill, which proposes a new crime of stalking be put on the statute book, with a maximum sentence of 10 years.