asked the Minister for Justice the last time the death sentence was carried out in this country; and the number of crimes deemed by the Garda Síochána to be murder committed in each subsequent year to date.
Written Answers. - Murder Statistics.
The death sentence was last carried out in the State on 20 April 1954.
The number of crimes classified as murder by the Garda Síochána in each year from 1954 to 1981 is set out in a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to have circulated with the Official Report.
Number of Murders 1954-1981.
Year |
Number of Murders |
Year |
Number of Murders |
1954 |
3 |
1968 |
10 |
1955 |
4 |
1969 |
6 |
1956 |
3 |
1970 |
11 |
1957 |
8 |
1971 |
9 |
1958 |
6 |
1972 |
22 |
1959 |
8 |
1973 |
21 |
1960 |
3 |
1974 |
51 |
1961 |
10 |
1975 |
23 |
1962 |
3 |
1976 |
19 |
1963 |
4 |
1977 |
25 |
1964 |
6 |
1978 |
14 |
1965 |
7 |
1979 |
23 |
1966 |
7 |
1980 |
20 |
1967 |
8 |
1981 |
22 |
Notes
(1) The figures shown for the years 1954 to 1974, inclusive, are for the 12 months ended 30 September in each case. In the period from 1 October to 31 December 1974, there were five murders. From 1975 onwards the figures are in respect of the calendar year.
(2) The 51 murders recorded for 1974 include the killing of 33 persons by car bomb explosions in Dublin and Monaghan town on 17 May 1974.