All killings, regardless of the circumstances involved, are the subject of rigorous investigation by the Garda Síochána. While the term "gangland killings" tends to be widely used in the media in referring to the nature of certain unlawful killings and speculation in this respect is understandable, this does not correspond to the manner in which the Garda Síochána classifies crime or particular offences. Caution is necessary in ascribing particular motives to any particular incident as, potentially, this might jeopardise the procedures which need to be followed for the proper investigation and prosecution of offences.
Data provided by the Garda authorities in respect of all murders recorded and detected in the period 1996 to 2004, inclusive, is summarised in the following table.
Year
|
Recorded
|
Detected
|
Detection rate
|
|
|
|
%
|
2004*
|
37
|
30
|
81
|
2003
|
45
|
29
|
64
|
2002
|
52
|
42
|
81
|
2001
|
52
|
45
|
87
|
2000
|
39
|
32
|
82
|
1999
|
38
|
31
|
82
|
1998
|
38
|
34
|
89
|
1997
|
38
|
34
|
89
|
1996
|
42
|
33
|
79
|
* Provisional