Murder trials up 25% in year
The numbers of murder and rape cases before the courts have risen significantly, new figures today revealed.
The Central Criminal Court saw a 25% jump in murder trials and a 10% increase in rape cases last year.
The court, which deals with serious crimes such as sexual attacks, homicide and treason, recorded an overall 10% rise in trials.
The figures were unveiled in the Annual Report of the Courts Service 2005.
Of the 42 murder cases completed last year, 16 were convicted of the offence, 15 were found guilty of a lesser offence, three were not guilty through insanity and four were acquitted.
There were 16 life sentences imposed in the murder trials, while 12 defendants were given between five and 10 years.
Some 75 rape and sexual assault cases were dealt with, of which 10 were convicted of rape, 20 were convicted of the charge along with other offences and 10 were found guilty of sexual offences.
The number of defendants acquitted totalled 15.
There were no life sentences imposed for rape or sex attacks, with around half the sentences issued being between five and 12 years. Three were given over 12 years while 13 defendants were ordered to serve up to five years.
A total of 2,434 children were brought before the juvenile courts last year, the report reveals.
Around 18% of the children were sentenced to some form of detention, with 5% being sent for trial at the Circuit or Central Criminal Court.
Just less than a quarter had their cases struck out and in 12% of the cases charges were withdrawn or dismissed.
Three children as young as 14 years were detained.
Cases before the Circuit Criminal Court rose by 10%, with around two thirds of all hearings related to robbery and assault.
Defendants pleaded guilty in 67% of trials outside Dublin, and in 85% of cases in the capital.
Some 11% of hearings in the provinces resulted in acquittal, compared to 4% in Dublin.
And while 43% of guilty defendants outside Dublin were handed down suspended sentences, the figure was 31% in the city.
