The number of murders in the State rose by more than 50 per cent between 2003 and 2006 and the conviction rate is falling, crime figures published today show.
The figures, released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) and based on Garda figures, show that in 2003, there were 80 recorded homicides, with 68 detections and 40 convictions. By 2006, the comparative figures were 134 recorded murders, 111 detections, and just 16 convictions.
In 2006, the southern region - comprising Limerick, Kerry, Cork North, Cork West, and Cork City - had the highest rate of recorded homicide offences with a figure of 4.3 per 100,000 population. The overall figure at the State level was 3.2.
There has also been an increase in convictions for drink driving in the period covered by the CSO report.
The figures for 2003 were 11,490 recorded incidents, 11,013 detected cases, and 6,526 convictions. Of those arrested that year for drink-driving, the majority were men aged between 25 and 44 (3,208).
By 2006, there were 18,606 recorded drink-driving incidents, 17,717 detected cases, and 9,997 convictions. The 25-44 age group again had the highest number of convictions, at 4,923.
In terms of sexual offences, the south eastern region (Wexford/Wicklow, Waterford/Kilkenny, and Tipperary) had the highest rate, at 0.46 per 1,000 population in 2006. Again, the western region had the lowest recorded rate at 0.26, with the State value of 0.34.
There were 1,989 sexual offences recorded in the State in 2003, with 1,231 detections, and 422 convictions. There were 1,442 recorded offences in 2006, 727 detections and just 37 convictions.
For recorded attempts or threats to murder, assaults, harassments and related offences, the Dublin metropolitan region (DMR) had by far the highest rate, at 5.31 per 1,000 population compared to 3.63 for the State.
The DMR had the highest rates for recorded controlled drug offences, weapons and explosives offences and public order and other social code offences in 2006.
For 2003, there were 1,919 recorded weapons/explosives offences, and that figure had risen to 3,117 by 2006, with 567 and 705 convictions for 2003 and 2006, respectively.
Again, the DMR had the highest rates of robbery, extortion and hijacking offences at 1.35 per 1,000 population in 2006 - well over three times the rate of the second-placed eastern region, which comprises Longford/Westmeath, Louth/Meath, Laois/Offaly, and Carlow/Leitrim.
For burglary and related crimes, the lowest rate was in the northern region (Donegal, Sligo/Leitrim, Cavan/Monaghan), with 3.0 such offences per 1,000 population. The DMR, at 8.33 had the highest rate. The overall State figure was 5.84.
