Crime Levels.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 January 2005

Thursday, 27 January 2005

Questions (182)

Trevor Sargent

Question:

181 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of serious crimes (details supplied) using firearms which took place during 2003 or during the latest year for which figures are available; the number of these which were carried out with legally held firearms; the number with previously legally held firearms which had been stolen from their owners; and the number carried out with firearms which were not legally held at any time here. [2322/05]

Written answers

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell)

I wish to inform the Deputy that the number of offences recorded in 2003 in which a firearm was used are outlined in the following table:

Year	Murders	Manslaughter	Robberies	Aggravated burglaries	Possession of a firearm	Discharge of a firearm
2003	20	0	251	62	374	210

A breakdown of the offences by reference to whether or not the weapon used was legally held is not readily available and could only be obtained by a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources.