Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 397: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of crimes committed by persons while on bail in each of the past five years to date; if any had been on bail for gun related crime, robbery with violence or head-line crime generally; if any, committed more than one offence while on bail; the highest number of offences committed by a person while on bail in respect of previous crime; if the records kept by his Department are adequate to accurately record such instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26859/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The numbers of headline offences, by group, committed by persons on bail for years 2004 and 2005 are contained in the relevant Garda Annual Reports, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library.

I am further informed that 2004 was the first year information relating to the offences committed by persons on bail was published. Comparable statistics for years prior to 2004 are not readily available and would require a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources to extract the data from manual records.

The statistics in the Commissioner's report classify offences committed while on bail under the ten headline crime groups under which the report's statistics are categorised. It should be noted that not all offences in the homicide group are the offences of murder and manslaughter. The homicide group of headline offences also includes the offences of attempted murder, threats, infanticide, abortion and procuring or assisting in an abortion.

I have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the number of persons who committed more than one offence while on bail, and the highest number of offences committed by a person while on bail. I will contact the Deputy again when this information is to hand.