Nothing to stop ‘Dr Evil’ making a mark over here
There’s a shocking lack of laws around tattoos
AS is often the case, it has taken a British court case to highlight glaring omissions and defects in Irish law. This week, tattoo artist Brendan McCarthy pleaded guilty in Wolverhampton to causing grievous bodily harm when he performed a ‘tongue splitting’ procedure and other ‘body modifications’ on consenting adults.
The court decided that the self-styled ‘Doctor Evil’ had, in effect, performed ‘medical procedures’ for no ‘medical reason’ and, as such, must now face the prospect of a custodial sentence when he is sentenced next month.
Mr McCarthy, whose Irish friends describe him a ‘knowledgeable, skilful and hygienic’ when he attended tattooing events in Ireland, pleaded that his clients requested the ‘body modifications’ just as they do when he tattoos them.
But the UK appeal court decided ‘there is, to our minds, no proper analogy between body modification, which involves the removal of parts of the body or mutilation as seen in tongue splitting, and tattooing, piercing or other body adornment’.
Anyone who walks around any of our cities or towns in the last few years will have noticed a huge growth in the number of tattoo parlours across the country.
You will not be surprised to hear that not only is there absolutely zero regulation of tattoo artists in Ireland, but the same applies to ‘body modifications’.
Dolores Murray, owner of Wildcat Studios in Dublin City centre, who is a friend of Mr McCarthy told me this week there are now ten people performing these ‘body modifications’ in Dublin alone.
In fairness, Ms Murray has been leading the campaign for regulation of the industry – which she says has grown exponentially in Ireland in recent years.
If he chose, Mr McCarthy could move his Dr Evil’s Body Modification Emporium from Princess Alley in Wolverhampton to Pearse Street in Dublin.
He would not be subject to any regulation. His ‘studio’ would not be inspected by any health authority. He could continue performing ‘medical’ procedures ‘for no medical reason’. Indeed, as Ms Murray pointed out, any tattooist or body modification artist does not even need a premises – they could operate from a van on the street!
Bizarrely, anyone of any age could conceivably avail of these services. There apparently is an unwritten agreement among tattoo artists in Ireland that they will not do tattoos on anyone under 18, or anyone intoxicated or those who request a tattoo on the face for the first time.
This is laudable, but no substitute for state regulations for procedures which are irreversible.
I know our legislature is consumed by Brexit, housing and health, but regulation of this expanding industry is needed urgently. There is nothing clearer. WRITE TO JOE AT: The Irish Mail on Sunday, Embassy House, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4