I am informed by the Garda authorities that a total of 34 murders have been recorded to date in 2004, 27 of which are recorded as detected. The Garda Síochána annual report 2003 shows 45 murders recorded and 29 detected in that year.
I am further informed by Garda authorities that for operational reasons they do not identify by name of victim which murders are currently the subject of an investigation. I understand that current murder investigations are ongoing in respect of murders recorded in this and previous years, including some murders recorded as detected.