Originally Posted by
Paddii
in the North you must provide an officer of the law with details of your identity when asked, whether or not it has been established that a crime has been committed. If you don't have ID on you, the you must tell the officer your name and address if asked. If u lie and they check it out, then they will look for an excuse to arrest you. The easiest way to do this is to hit you or verbally abuse you, to try to provoke a response, as it is an offence to abuse a police officer either physically or verbally - automatic 3 years in the joint. So best just to give yr details and then shut up.
I'm sure it's similar in the Republic as I nearly got scooped in Dublin 20 years ago, only the Gard hit me too hard and I went down instead of hitting him back lol. My mates ended up in Mountjoy for the night.