period of imprisonment for up to 5 years or both. Blackmail, extortion and demanding money with menaces It is an offence for a person to make unwarranted demands with menaces to make personal gains for themselves or someone else or with the intent to cause a loss for someone else. An exception exists if: the person making the demands believes they have reasonable grounds for making them they believe the use of menaces is a proper way of enforcing the demand. The courts have held that "menaces" are to be interpreted broadly. The penalty is an unlimited fine, a period of imprisonment for up to 14 years or both. Assault with intent to cause bodily harm or commit an indictable offence While the main law that deals with assault is the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, section 18 of this act creates another offence of assault with intent to cause bodily harm or to commit an indictable offence. It covers aggravated assaults when there is intent to injure or commit an indictable offence. The penalty is an unlimited fine, a period of imprisonment for up to 5 years or both. Assault or obstruction of a peace officer It is an offence to threaten a peace officer or someone providing medical services at a hospital. Peace officers are: members of the Garda Síochána members of the Fire Brigade Ambulance personnel Prison officers members of the Defence Forces. This covers assaults on: a peace officer or someone providing medical services at a hospital anyone assisting a peace officer or someone providing medical services. It is also an offence to assault such people to prevent the lawful arrest or detention of someone for an offence. The penalty is an unlimited fine, a period of imprisonment for up to 7 years or both. Someone could also be guilty of this offence for obstructing: a peace officer or someone providing medical services at a hospital anyone assisting a peace officer or someone providing medical services. Someone found guilty of this crime is liable on summary conviction to a class C fine, a maximum term of imprisonment of 6 months or both. References External links Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994 at Irish Statute Book 1994 in Irish law Acts of the Oireachtas of the 1990s Anti-social behaviour Irish law