IN THE PAST 10 years more than 250,000 crimes have been committed by people while out on bail, new figures reveal.
The full figures, released by the Central Statistics Office to TD Noel Grealish show that between 2006 and 2015, 89 murders, 237 serious sexual offences (including rape) 50,000 thefts, 50,000 public order offences and 18,000 burglaries were committed by those out on bail.
The total is 250,149 to be exact.
An 11% increase
Figures from the CSO show that last year alone, almost 26,000 crimes were committed by people out on bail, a large increase of 11% on the figure for the previous year.
Deputy Grealish told the Dáil that many of those involved had brought “terror to our society”.
It is equivalent to 500 crimes per week being carried out by people who have already been charged with a criminal offence, in respect of which they are awaiting their day in court.
“They were apprehended by the Garda, charged and then released while a file was being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
“A file could be with the Director of Public Prosecutions for months. In the meantime, the people in question are reoffending.”
Grealish called for the bail laws to be reformed, and called for those charged with violent crimes to be held on remand while the DPP considers the files.
January to March of this year
According to the CSO, a total of 6,049 crimes were committed between January and March this year where the suspected offender was out on bail for other offences.
In the Dáil, Taoiseach Enda Kenny told Grealish that the government had recruited 1,200 gardaí, raised spending on Garda vehicles from €4.8 million to €34 million and put in place Operation Thor to tackle burglary gangs.
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