asked the Minister for Justice if he will state in respect of the past four years (1) the number of days the circuit criminal court for Cork City and County sat for hearing cases; (2) the number of juries picked to hear individual cases; (3) the number of cases in which juries brought in verdicts of guilty; (4) the number of persons sent to jail as a result of jury convictions (not including those persons who pleaded guilty); and (5) the number of criminal cases now waiting to be heard.
Written Answers. - Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
459.
, Limerick East): The figures, which relate to the four-year period ending 30 September 1983, are, in the order sought in the question, 142, 81, 26, 23 and 120.
I should perhaps explain that the last-mentioned figure, namely 120 cases awaiting hearing, includes a substantial number where the accused persons cannot be located and probably have left the jurisdiction.