Right or Wrong

Darragh2468

Am a 17 year old guy, who has met an exchange student. She is 15, french. She is interested..should I stay clear, or pursue a relationship so long as we don't have sex.

Mrs OBumble

17/2 + 7 = 15.5. (applying the "Half-your-age-plus-seven" rule - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_disparity_in_sexual_relationships)

So if it's more than 6 months since she turned 15, then pursue. But as you note, remember the legalities.

Ezeoul

How close to 18 are you? And how close to 16 is she?

If she has just turned 15 or you're about to turn 18, I'd say don't pursue.

I wouldn't want my 15 year old dating an 18 year old, Sorry.

Ash.J.Williams

Not with a ten foot pole

SupaCat95

For the risk of a few great nights its not worth the risk of being on the Register of Sex Offenders. Its just a register it doesnt take account of age or act. That will follow you for job application, credit checks and Visa applications.

This is just not the right time. So many things could go wrong here. Just leave it until next time.

HazeDoll

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121765133#Comment_121765133

That 'rule' is about an observed pattern in existing relationships. It is not a guideline for what is acceptable, either socially or legally.

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121765785#Comment_121765785

The rule has been recommended to me by various youth workers as a handy guideline for teenagers. I have no personal experience applying it.

There is no legal restriction on who can date, which is what the poster asked about. The poster clearly understands the legal restrictions around intercourse.

And socially acceptable? We don't know anything about the OPs social situation, any only a tiny bit about the other party (nationality and student-status).

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Calahonda52

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121765746#Comment_121765746

Just looked it up, seems he might have some wriggle room on the RoSO but still serious risks

prosecution and jail is possible

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/criminal-law/criminal-trial/sex-offenders-register/#:~:text=If%20you%20are%20convicted%20of%20a%20sexual%20offence%20and%20become,of%20being%20released%20from%20prison)

The Act does not apply in cases of defilement of a child aged under 17 years if:

• The victim is aged between 15 and 17 years of age when the offence takes place, and
• The person guilty of the offence is less than 3 years older than the victim

https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2006/act/15/section/3/enacted/en/html

deals with defilement which appears to not be called rape if victim under 18

https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/teenager-gets-one-year-detention-for-defilement-of-girl-after-breaching-conditions-1441991.html

Ash.J.Williams

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121766519#Comment_121766519

Old wives tale, if you need to consult a statute book then probably back off 😆😆

HazeDoll

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121766407#Comment_121766407

If youth workers are going around spouting that nonsense there we might as well write the next generation off completely.

But they're not, are they? Because you made that bit up.

(And if you had read the article to which you linked you would have noticed that it is assumed that both parties are 14 years older than the age difference, so it can't apply here.)