I am informed by the Garda authorities that the available information is as follows. The statistics relating to murder are in respect of persons aged one year or more.
From 1 January to 9 May 1995, 12 males and one female were murdered. From 1 January to 9 May 1996, 12 males and nine females were murdered. Information for the period 1 January to 9 May 1994 if not readily available.
With regard to the number of persons murdered in full calendars years, in 1993 ten males and seven females were murdered. In 1994 17 males and eight females were murdered and in 1995 33 males and eight females were murdered.
The figure for 1993 is somewhat lower than that contained in the annual Garda crime reports. The reason is that some cases classed originally as "murder" are subsequently classified under a different heading, e.g. manslaughter, on the basis of more complete information or as a result of court decisions in the meantime. Similarly, it can be reasonably expected, in the light of previous experience, that a number of the 1994 and 1995 cases classed as murder will be subsequently reclassified under a different heading as those cases come to be examined by the law officers and dealt with by the courts.