asked the Minister for Justice (a) the number of murders committed each year for the past ten years; (b) the number of prosecutions each year; (c) the number convicted each year; and (d) the number which escaped detection each year.
Written Answers. - Murder Statistics.
Statistics in relation to crimes classified as murder by the Garda Síochána in respect of each of the past ten years are as follows:—
Year |
Number of Murders |
Number of Prosecutions |
Number of Convictions |
Offences detected but no proceedings taken |
Offences Undetected |
1972 |
22 |
12 |
6 |
6 |
4 |
1973 |
21 |
15 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
1974 |
56 |
22 |
7 |
— |
34 |
1975 |
23 |
15 |
6 |
2 |
6 |
1976 |
19 |
14 |
1 |
— |
5 |
1977 |
25 |
21 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
(1 case subsequently detected) |
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1978 |
15 |
14 |
2 |
— |
1 |
(subsequently detected) |
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1979 |
22 |
20 |
5 |
— |
2 |
1980 |
21* |
17 |
6 |
— |
4 |
(2 cases subsequently detected) |
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1981 |
24 |
24 |
1 |
— |
— |
Notes:
1. The 1981 figures are provisional.
2. The figures shown for the years 1972 to 1973 inclusive are for the twelve months ended 30 September in each case. The figures for 1974 are in respect of the fifteen month period ended 31 December. The figures from 1975 onwards are in respect of the calendar year.
3. The murders recorded for 1974 include the killing of 33 persons by car bomb explosions in Dublin and Monaghan town on 17 May, 1974.
*4. This figure has recently been adjusted by the Garda authorities to include one murder which was previously recorded in the total for 1979.