Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Mar 1997

Vol. 475 No. 8

Written Answers. - Court Appeals.

John O'Donoghue

Question:

211 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice the number of cases in each of the past five years in which the defendants have appealed against the severity of their sentences; the number of such appeals which were successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6333/97]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

The number of appeals lodged in the legal years ending 31 July 1991 to 31 July 1995 against District Court Orders is as follows:

For year ending	No. of District Court convictions appealed	No. of Appellants
31 July 1991	17,013	6,952
31 July 1992	15,359	6,152
31 July 1993	13,769	5,276
31 July 1994	13,690	7,386
31 July 1995	16,782	6,565

A defendant can appeal against the conviction and sentence or against the severity of sentence only. The statistics available on District Court appeals do not distinguish between the grounds of appeals. Statistics are not available on the results of these appeals.

Appeals against orders made in the Circuit Criminal Court, the Central Criminal Court and the Special Criminal Court are made to the Court of Criminal Appeal. The statistics are set out in the following tables.

Court of Criminal Appeal

Appeals Received

Year Ending	Conviction and Sentence	Conviction Only	Sentence only	Total
31/7/92	10	20	68	98
31/7/93	15	29	77	121
31/7/94	19	26	85	130
31/7/95	12	19	76	107
31/7/96	25	22	143	190

Results of Appeals heard in the Court of Criminal Appeal Year ending 31/7/92

	Conviction and Sentence	Conviction Only	Sentence Only	Total
Conviction and Sentence quashed and
(i) Appellant released	3	1	—	4
(ii) Re-trial ordered	—	1	—	1
Order Varied	3	—	23	26

Results of Appeals heard in the Court of Criminal Appeal Year ending 31/7/93

	Conviction and Sentence	Conviction Only	Sentence Only	Total
Conviction and Sentence quashed and
(i) Appellant released	1	5	—	6
(ii) Re-trial ordered	2	5	—	7
Order Varied	1	—	14	15

Results of Appeals heard in the Court of Criminal Appeal Year ending 31/7/94

	Conviction and Sentence	Conviction Only	Sentence Only	Total
Conviction and Sentence quashed and
(i) Appellant released	3	3	—	6
(ii) Re-trial ordered	4	2	—	6
Order Varied	1	—	18	19

Results of Appeals heard in the Court of Criminal Appeal Year ending 31/7/95

	Conviction and Sentence	Conviction Only	Sentence Only	Total
Conviction and Sentence quashed and
(i) Appellant released	3	5	—	8
(ii) Re-trial ordered	2	2	—	4
Order Varied	—	—	24	24

Results of Appeals heard in the Court of Criminal Appeal Year ending 31/7/96

	Conviction and Sentence	Conviction Only	Sentence Only	Total
Conviction and Sentence quashed and
(i) Appellant released	1	—	—	1
(ii) Re-trial ordered	4	2	—	6
Order Varied	—	—	20	20