Figures show alarming increase in serious crime last year
26/01/2006 - 13:05:09The Department of Justice has reported an alarming increase in the number of serious crimes committed in Ireland last year.
The figures showed that 54 were murdered last year, an increase of 46% on the figures for 2004.
Nineteen of the victims were killed in gangland attacks.
The figures showed an overall increase of 3% in the number of crimes committed in 2005, with rape, sexual assault, gun crime and drug trafficking all on t he rise during the year.
However, the number of manslaughters and robberies investigated by the Gardai was down compared to 2004.
