Written answers
Tuesday, 17 May 2005
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Crime Levels
9:00 pm
Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of cases of murder in which firearms were used in respect of each year from 1998 and to date; the number of such cases in which prosecutions for murder have been initiated; the number of such cases in which convictions have been secured; if he is satisfied with the level of detection and conviction in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16114/05]
Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 260: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of cases of murder in which firearms where used in respect of each year from 1998 to 2005 to date; the number of such cases in which prosecutions for murder have been initiated; the number of such cases in which convictions have been secured; if he is satisfied with the level of detection and conviction in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16262/05]
Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 260 together.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the number of murders in which firearms where used in respect of each year from 1998 to 16 May 2005.
As the Deputy is aware, the Director of Public Prosecutions is statutorily independent in the performance of his function and it would, therefore, be inappropriate for me to comment on his decisions. Furthermore, judges are independent in the exercise of their judicial functions and subject only to the Constitution and the law. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment on their decisions also.
| Murders involving Firearms 1998 to 16 May 2005. | ||||
| Year | Recorded | Detected | Proceedings Commenced | Convictions |
| 1998 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 1999 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 5 |
| 2000 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| 2001 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| 2002 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 2003 | 20 | 8 | 4 | 1 |
| *2004 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| *2005 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| *Figures for 2004 and 2005 are operational and liable to change. |
I am informed by the Garda authorities that murders involving the use of firearms tend to have lower conviction rates than other murders. This is not unique to Ireland. The number of violent deaths, murder and manslaughter, recorded in 2004 is 45, the lowest number recorded in ten years, despite our population increasing by 400,000 during the same period.
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