9 Statistics

Explanatory Note in Relation to Statistics

9.1 The statistics outlined in this report have been compiled from data taken from our IT systems which are primarily used as a case tracking system and were not designed for the principal purpose of generating statistics. The systems are subject to ongoing development in order to enhance the quality of the data produced.

9.2 This chapter is broken down into three distinct sections:

9.3 All the yearly demarcations in the statistical tables refer to the year the file was received in the Office. The reason for going back so far in charts 7 to 11 is to take account of the time difference between a direction being made and a trial verdict being recorded. If statistics were to be provided in respect of 2006 case outcomes, a large proportion of the cases would still be classified as 'for hearing'.

9.4 In this report we have attempted in most instances to include updated versions of the data set out in previous Annual Reports in order to give a fuller account of the progress made since that data was previously published. Because of the continuous change in the status of cases - for example, a case which was pending at the time of a previous report may now have concluded - information given in this report will differ from that for the same cohort of cases in previous reports. In addition, data from two years may not be strictly comparable because as time goes on more cases are completed so that information from earlier years is necessarily more complete than that from later years. Unless otherwise stated, data included in these statistics was updated as of June 2007.

9.5 Caution should be exercised when considering these statistics in light of statistics published by other organisations such as the Courts Service or the Garda Síochána. The statistics published here are based on our own classification and categorisation systems and may in some cases not be in line with the classification systems of other organisations.

CLARIFICATION (inserted August 2007)

Please note that charts 8 and 8b of the Annual Report 2006 have been adjusted slightly since the publication of the Report in July 2007. This is to correct a slight discrepancy in relation to the categorisation of offences in these charts that was caused by some field option changes on our computer systems in 2005.

Chart 1 shows the total number of files received by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions from 1976 to 2006.

The vast majority of files received in the Office relate to the investigation of crime. The remainder deal with general queries, matters for judicial review or requests for legal advice from the Garda Síochána or local state solicitors. The caseload has increased generally on a year on year basis since the establishment of the Office both in terms of number of files received and in the complexity of the issues that have to be addressed.

The significant drop of over 1,000 files from 2000 to 2001 was the result of a change in administrative arrangements authorising the prosecution of certain offences by the Garda Síochána without the necessity for the prior submission of files to this Office for directions. The sharp increase in figures from 2001 to 2002 is due to the transfer of the Criminal Division of the Chief State Solicitor's Office to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in December 2001 to form the Solicitors Division of the Office.

CHART 1 TOTAL FILES RECEIVED

Year

Files

Year

Files

Year

Files
1976 2298 1987 3902 1998 7066
1977 2542 1988 3829 1999 7321
1978 2715 1989 3724 2000 7815
1979 2698 1990 3849 2001 6821
1980 2806 1991 4255 2002 14586
1981 3249 1992 4880 2003 14696
1982 3738 1993 5356 2004 14613
1983 4309 1994 6393 2005 14475
1984 4759 1995 6674 2006 15214
1985 4335 1996 6687    
1986 4263 1997 6915    

The Solicitors Division of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions provides a solicitor service to the Director and acts on his behalf. The division also deals with cases which do not require to be referred to the Directing Division for direction.

Chart 2 represents the number of cases dealt with solely by the Solicitors Division and includes District Court prosecution files, appeals from the District Court to the Circuit Court and High Court Bail applications. The figure for District Court Appeals represents the number of files held, not the number of individual charges appealed. One defendant may have a multiplicity of charges under appeal.

The Solicitors Division also deals with judicial review applications. While some of these applications are dealt with solely by the Solicitors Division, others require to be forwarded to the Directing Division for direction. However, because the dedicated Judicial Review Section is based in the Solicitors Division the total number of judicial review applications dealt with are included in this chart. Those applications which required a direction are also included in the figures for the Directing Division (Chart 3) under the category 'other legal files'. Judicial reviews may be taken by the Director or be taken against him.

CHART 2 FILES DEALT WITH BY SOLICITORS DIVISION
 

2006

%

2005

%

2004

%
District Court Prosecution Files 2509 37% 2306 37% 1808 25%
Appeals from District Court to Circuit Court 2132 32% 1885 30% 3130 44%
High Court Bail Applications 1707 25% 1727 27% 1958 27%
Judicial Review Applications 358 5% 373 6% 299 4%
TOTAL 6706   6291   7195  

Chart 3 compares the number of files received in the Directing Division to the number of suspects who are the subject of these files. Many files relate to more than one suspect and to treat such a file as a single case can give a misleading impression of the workload of the Office. It is important, therefore, to look at the total number of suspects as well as the total number of files.

NOTE: There are also a number of files received in the Directing Division each year not relating to prosecutions. These include requests for legal advice from the Garda Síochána and local state solicitors, and judicial review applications received from the Solicitors Division for direction.-- These files are outlined in the chart as 'other legal files'.

CHART 3 BREAKDOWN OF FILES RECEIVED IN DIRECTING DIVISION
 

2006

2005

2004
Number of prosecution files received in Directing Division 7791 7476 6698
Number of suspects who are the subject of prosecution files 10701 9954 9475
Number of other legal files received not related to individual prosecutions 717 708 720

The following chart shows a breakdown of the disposal of files received in the Directing Division in 2004, 2005 and 2006 (as of June 2007). The Garda Síochána and specialised investigating agencies submit files either directly to our Solicitors Division or to the local state solicitor for a direction whether or not to prosecute. Depending on the seriousness of the offence and the evidence disclosed in the file, a decision will be taken as follows:

No Prosecution: A decision not to prosecute is made. The most common reason not to prosecute is because the evidence contained in the file is not sufficient to support a prosecution. The figures however list all decisions not to prosecute.

Prosecute on Indictment: It is decided to prosecute in the Circuit, Central or Special Criminal Courts.

Summary Disposal: The offence is to be prosecuted in the District Court.

Under Consideration: Files in which a decision has not been made. This figure includes those files in which further information or investigation was required before a decision could be made. Further information is sought more often than not to strengthen the case rather than because of any deficiency in the investigation.

NOTE: The figures for 2004 and 2005 have been updated since the publication of previous Annual Reports. The reduction in the files 'Under Consideration' figures compared with those given in previous years reflect developments on those files since then. 'Prosecutions on Indictment' include those cases in which defendants elected for trial and cases where the judge of the District Court refused jurisdiction, notwithstanding the fact that the Director initially elected for summary disposal.

CHART 4 DISPOSAL OF DIRECTING DIVISION FILES BY NUMBER OF SUSPECTS SUBJECT OF FILES RECEIVED

Direction Made

2006

%

2005

%

2004

%
No Prosecution 3722 35% 3832 38% 3979 42%
Prosecution on Indictment 3513 33% 2997 30% 2769 29%
Summary Disposal 2932 27% 2945 30% 2542 27%
TOTAL OF FILES DISPOSED 10167 95% 9774 98% 9290 98%
Under Consideration 534 5% 180 2% 185 2%
TOTAL 10701   9954   9475  

A decision may be made not to prosecute in relation to a particular file for a variety of reasons other than the main reasons set out in this chart (referred to as 'other' below). The death or disappearance of the suspect, the death or disappearance of the complainant or the refusal of a complainant to give evidence are some examples.

CHART 4A BREAKDOWN OF MAIN REASONS FOR A DIRECTION NOT TO PROSECUTE

Main Reasons for no Prosecution

2006

%

2005

%

2004

%
Insufficient Evidence 2948 79% 2871 75% 2904 73%
Juvenile Diversion Programme 162 4% 196 5% 224 6%
Public Interest 155 4% 199 5% 176 4%
Sympathetic Grounds 50 1% 74 2% 50 1%
Time Limit Expired 162 4% 193 5% 270 7%
Undue Delay 57 2% 93 2% 119 3%
Other 188 5% 206 5% 236 6%
TOTAL 3722   3832   3979  

Chart 4b is a breakdown of directions to prosecute on indictment, by the county in which the offence was committed. It includes cases directed to be heard in the Circuit Criminal, Central Criminal and Special Criminal Courts. Please note that a number of cases are still 'Under Consideration' (see Chart 4). These include cases where a file was received but further information was required. It is not possible to determine how many of these cases may eventually result in a direction to prosecute on indictment.

CHART 4B BREAKDOWN OF NUMBER OF PROSECUTIONS ON INDICTMENT DIRECTED PER COUNTY OF OFFENCE
                     

Cases per 1,000 Persons

3 Year Rolling Average
 

Population
2006 *

Population
2005 *

Population
2004 *

Population
2003 *

Population
2002 *

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2004
-2006

2003
-2005

2002
-2004
Carlow 50,349 49,235 47,982 47,035 46,014 30 41 22 23 27 0.60 0.83 0.46 0.49 0.59 0.63 0.59 0.51
Cavan 64,003 60,936 59,959 58,728 56,546 36 28 29 31 44 0.56 0.46 0.48 0.53 0.78 0.50 0.49 0.60
Clare 110,950 107,722 105,612 104,634 103,277 65 70 62 68 51 0.59 0.65 0.59 0.65 0.49 0.61 0.63 0.58
Cork 481,295 471,489 461,745 455,172 447,829 315 320 249 304 295 0.65 0.68 0.54 0.67 0.66 0.62 0.63 0.62
Donegal 147,264 143,983 141,675 138,766 137,575 52 48 39 66 40 0.35 0.33 0.28 0.48 0.29 0.32 0.36 0.35
Dublin 1,187,176 1,160,100 1,144,400 1,133,900 1,122,821 1901 1541 1416 1465 1513 1.60 1.33 1.24 1.29 1.35 1.39 1.29 1.29
Galway 231,670 225,207 218,717 215,333 209,077 97 58 84 46 47 0.42 0.26 0.38 0.21 0.22 0.35 0.29 0.27
Kerry 139,835 138,211 135,355 133,428 132,527 59 61 58 69 45 0.42 0.44 0.43 0.52 0.34 0.43 0.46 0.43
Kildare 186,335 178,456 172,500 167,687 163,944 100 78 102 74 84 0.54 0.44 0.59 0.44 0.51 0.52 0.49 0.51
Kilkenny 87,558 85,785 83,602 81,950 80,339 64 33 55 26 22 0.73 0.38 0.66 0.32 0.27 0.59 0.45 0.42
Laois 67,059 64,074 62,465 60,750 58,774 22 27 33 20 30 0.33 0.42 0.53 0.33 0.51 0.43 0.43 0.46
Leitrim 28,950 27,675 27,231 26,672 25,799 8 13 4 18 2 0.28 0.47 0.15 0.67 0.08 0.30 0.43 0.30
Limerick 184,055 180,700 177,161 175,520 175,304 137 127 84 107 83 0.74 0.70 0.47 0.61 0.47 0.64 0.60 0.52
Longford 34,391 33,331 32,494 31,602 31,068 20 9 13 16 16 0.58 0.27 0.40 0.51 0.51 0.42 0.39 0.47
Louth 111,267 107,714 105,987 103,811 101,821 70 38 73 79 96 0.63 0.35 0.69 0.76 0.94 0.56 0.60 0.80
Mayo 123,839 123,288 119,735 117,883 117,446 53 47 52 27 29 0.43 0.38 0.43 0.23 0.25 0.41 0.35 0.30
Meath 162,831 151,228 146,181 142,103 134,005 70 67 52 54 48 0.43 0.44 0.36 0.38 0.36 0.41 0.39 0.36
Monaghan 55,997 54,891 54,011 52,902 52,593 22 40 22 30 41 0.39 0.73 0.41 0.57 0.78 0.51 0.57 0.58
Offaly 70,868 68,503 66,782 64,949 63,663 19 20 18 29 11 0.27 0.29 0.27 0.45 0.17 0.28 0.34 0.30
Roscommon 58,768 57,505 55,848 54,984 53,774 15 18 23 25 13 0.26 0.31 0.41 0.45 0.24 0.33 0.39 0.37
Sligo 60,894 60,201 59,236 58,020 58,200 49 48 41 41 19 0.80 0.80 0.69 0.71 0.33 0.76 0.73 0.58
Tipperary 149,244 146,823 143,462 141,285 140,131 62 59 46 48 49 0.42 0.40 0.32 0.34 0.35 0.38 0.35 0.34
Waterford 107,961 107,045 104,321 102,260 101,546 72 61 64 96 72 0.67 0.57 0.61 0.94 0.71 0.62 0.71 0.75
Westmeath 79,346 76,992 75,059 72,999 71,858 56 42 25 42 35 0.71 0.55 0.33 0.58 0.49 0.53 0.48 0.47
Wexford 131,749 126,889 123,659 121,217 116,596 51 42 40 50 34 0.39 0.33 0.32 0.41 0.29 0.35 0.36 0.34
Wicklow 126,194 122,716 118,620 115,310 114,676 68 61 63 59 74 0.54 0.50 0.53 0.51 0.65 0.52 0.51 0.56
TOTAL 4,239,848 4,130,699 4,043,799 3,978,900 3,917,203 3513 2997 2769 2913 2820                

*Population figures for 2002 and 2006 are taken from the census figures published for those years. Population figures for the intervening years are calculated based on the proration of the latest Population & Migration estimates for the Regional Authority Areas as published by the Central Statistics Office in 2006, which includes revised yearly figures for 2003 to 2005

Chart 5 shows the time between the receipt of a completed prosecution file in the Office and the issuing of a direction as to whether a prosecution of a suspect should be taken or not. It has been decided to show this information by suspect rather than by file since in the case of files containing multiple suspects, decisions in respect of all suspects may not be made at the same time.

Files vary in size and complexity. Also, in some cases, further information or investigation was required before a decision could be made. Further information may be sought to enhance the proofs in a case and does not necessarily imply any deficiency in the investigation.

The time taken to issue directions is calculated on the basis of only those files which have been disposed of. Files still under consideration are therefore shown as a separate category in the table below.

CHART 5 TIME TAKEN TO ISSUE DIRECTIONS

Time Taken

2006

%

2005

%

2004

%
Zero - Two Weeks 5521 52% 4665 47% 4081 43%
Two - Four Weeks 1338 13% 1423 14% 1220 13%
Four Weeks - Three Months 1999 19% 2227 22% 2234 24%
Three Months - Six Months 910 9% 907 9% 963 10%
Six Months - Twelve Months 369 3% 372 4% 509 5%
More than Twelve Months 30 0% 180 2% 283 3%
TOTAL FILES DISPOSED 10167 95% 9774 98% 9290 98%
Under Consideration 534 5% 180 2% 185 2%
TOTAL 10701   9954   9475  

Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1993 provides that the Director of Public Prosecutions may apply to the Court of Criminal Appeal to have a sentence imposed by the trial court reviewed, if it appears that the sentence imposed was in law unduly lenient.

Chart 6 below details the number of applications made since the introduction of the Act.

In Annual Reports prior to 2004 the results of applications made were set out according to the year in which they were lodged. However not all applications lodged in the year for which the Annual Report was reporting were heard by the date of publication of the Annual Report and the results for such applications were listed as pending. It was therefore decided, from the year 2003 onwards, to set out the results of applications according to the year in which they were heard.

Chart 6a below outlines the results of applications, from the years 1994 to 2002, by the year in which the application was lodged (as appeared in previous Annual Reports).

Chart 6b outlines the results of applications, from the year 2003 onwards, by the year in which the application was heard.

CHART 6 APPLICATIONS FOR REVIEW OF SENTENCE ON GROUNDS OF UNDUE LENIENCY

Year of Application

Number of Applications Lodged

Year of Application

Number of Applications Lodged
1994 2 2001 23
1995 2 2002 23
1996 3 2003 26
1997 4 2004 21
1998 12 2005 37
1999 34 2006 41
2000 31    

CHART 6A RESULTS OF APPLICATIONS BY YEAR LODGED

Year of Application Lodged

Successful

Refused

Applications Struck Out or Withdrawn

TOTAL
1994 - 1 1 2
1995 - 1 1 2
1996 1 1 1 3
1997 2 2 - 4
1998 6 3 3 12
1999 17 16 1 34
2000 15 13 3 31
2001 17 3 3 23
2002 14 9 - 23
CHART 6B RESULTS OF APPLICATIONS BY YEAR HEARD

Year of Application Heard

Successful

Refused

Applications Struck Out or Withdrawn

TOTAL
2003 11 8 1 20
2004 13 8 1 22
2005 18 9 2 29
2006 33 15 2 50

Outcomes of Prosecutions Taken on Indictment

Charts 7 to 11 provide information for prosecutions on indictment taken by the Director in respect of files received in the Office between 2003 and 2005. As referred to in the initial explanatory note, care should be taken before a comparison is made to figures provided by any other organisation, as they are likely to be compiled on a different basis.

The figures in these charts relate to individual suspects against whom a direction has been made to prosecute on indictment. Statistics are provided on a suspect-by-suspect basis rather than on the basis of files received. This is because directions are made in respect of each suspect included within a file rather than against the complete file as an entity in itself. Depending on the evidence provided, different directions are often made in respect of the individual suspects received as part of the same file. References in these charts to 'cases' refer to such prosecutions taken against individual suspects. Although individual suspects on a file may be tried together where a direction is made to prosecute them in courts of equal jurisdiction, each suspect's verdict will be collated separately for the purpose of these statistics.

Statistics are provided on the basis of one outcome per suspect; this is irrespective of the number of charges that the suspect may have been prosecuted for in respect of that file. Where a suspect is convicted on any charge, he will be categorised as 'convicted' regardless of whether the conviction is in respect of the main charge or for a lesser charge or charges on the indictment. Where a suspect is categorised as 'acquitted', this means that the suspect has been acquitted of all charges. In respect of cases heard in the Central Criminal Court for rape and murder, a further breakdown is given in respect of convictions for a lesser offence (e.g. manslaughter instead of murder). This information is not available within our computer systems in respect of the other courts so care should be taken in interpreting their statistics. Suspects tried before these courts are categorised on the basis of the most serious offence they are charged with, but the offence or offences they are convicted for may be different from that under which they are categorised in the charts.

It should also be noted that statistics set out in these charts relate to what happened in the trial court only and not in a subsequent appeal court. In other words where a person is convicted and the conviction is subsequently overturned on appeal, the outcome of the trial is still shown in our statistics as a conviction.

Care should be taken in relation to interpreting the rates of conviction and acquittal in respect of later years, as a higher number of cases will not have reached a conclusion. The picture furnished by these statistics will be less complete and therefore less representative than those in respect of earlier years. Cases heard relatively early may not necessarily be a representative sample of the whole.

Chart 7 shows the results of prosecutions on indictment taken in relation to defendants in respect of whom prosecutions were commenced in the years 2003 to 2005 (as of June 2007). The figures relate to:

Conviction: A conviction was obtained in respect of at least one of the charges brought in the case.

Acquittal: The defendant was acquitted on all charges.

Not Yet Heard: These are cases in which a decision to prosecute has been taken and the matter is before the courts.

NOTE: Figures have not been included for 2006 as the majority of these cases have yet to be dealt with by the courts and the outcomes for the few cases where results are available may not be representative of the final picture covering all the cases.

CHART 7 CASE RESULTS - PROSECUTIONS ON INDICTMENT

Outcome

2005

%

2004

%

2003

%
Conviction 1931 64% 1970 71% 2075 71%
Acquittal 120 4% 156 6% 194 7%
Not Yet Heard 858 29% 478 17% 445 15%
Struck Out/Discontinued 88 3% 165 6% 199 7%
TOTAL 2997   2769   2913  

CHART 7A BREAKDOWN OF CONVICTIONS AND ACQUITTALS (EXCLUDING CASES STILL TO BE HEARD)
 

2005

%

2004

%

2003

%
Conviction by Jury 101 5% 138 6% 148 7%
Conviction Following Plea of Guilty 1830 89% 1832 86% 1927 85%
TOTAL CONVICTIONS 1931 94% 1970 92% 2075 92%
Acquittal by Jury 75 4% 82 4% 119 5%
Acquittal on Direction of Judge 45 2% 74 3% 75 3%
TOTAL ACQUITTALS 120 6% 156 7% 194 8%
TOTAL 2051   2126   2269  

Chart 8 breaks down the prosecutions directed on indictment to be heard in the Circuit Court. The cases categorised as 'For Hearing' are those for which a verdict has not yet been recorded. In some of these cases, a trial may have begun but proceedings have been halted by a Judicial Review application. In other cases the defendant may have absconded before the trial and a bench warrant and/or extradition proceedings may be in process. Other cases, especially those of a complex nature, may not yet have come to trial. The greater proportion of cases 'For Hearing' makes the figures in more recent years less representative. This provision is also applicable to Charts 9 - 11. Where a trial results in a disagreement the case is treated as still being 'For Hearing' unless a nolle prosequi is entered.

CHART 8 OUTCOMES OF CASES PROSECUTED IN THE CIRCUIT CRIMINAL COURT
 

TOTAL

Conviction by Jury

Conviction on Plea

Acquittal by Jury

Acquittal by
Direction of Judge

For Hearing

Other Disposals
 

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003
Fatal Accident at Work 14 8 9 0 0 2 4 4 6 0 0 0 1 0 0 9 4 1 0 0 0
Fatal Road Traffic Accident 53 54 37 6 7 4 20 32 22 2 4 3 6 2 2 19 9 5 0 0 1
Manslaughter 11 8 9 1 3 2 7 1 3 1 1 1 0 1 3 2 2 0 0 0 0
Other Fatal Offences 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 0
TOTAL - FATAL OFFENCES 81 70 57 7 10 8 31 37 32 3 5 4 7 3 5 33 15 7 0 0 1
Burglary 286 249 267 1 6 4 198 182 204 4 4 5 8 5 5 68 34 36 7 18 13
Fraud 62 68 52 0 4 0 30 39 35 0 1 0 0 3 3 29 20 12 3 1 2
Robbery 496 404 401 1 3 14 398 320 314 2 5 2 3 8 3 80 45 41 12 23 27
Other Offences Against Property 174 204 235 6 8 4 110 130 148 4 3 5 3 6 9 48 41 45 3 16 24
TOTAL - OFFENCES AGAINST PROPERTY 1018 925 955 8 21 22 736 671 701 10 13 12 14 22 20 225 140 134 25 58 66
Buggery 2 11 5 0 1 1 0 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 1 0 0 0
Child Pornography 8 8 30 0 1 0 4 5 25 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 2 3 0 0 1
Sexual Assault 75 72 86 3 8 5 27 40 47 2 3 10 1 1 2 37 16 13 5 4 9
Sex with an Underage Girl 12 19 18 0 0 0 2 8 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 9 3 6 2 3
Other Sexual Offences 8 21 23 0 1 1 5 9 10 0 0 1 0 0 2 3 10 8 0 1 1
TOTAL - SEXUAL OFFENCES 105 131 162 3 11 7 38 66 97 2 3 11 1 1 5 50 43 28 11 7 14
Drug Offences 481 395 451 6 18 13 328 302 345 0 1 3 2 3 7 139 52 68 6 19 15
Firearms and Explosives Offences 116 122 142 3 6 6 69 80 100 3 5 5 2 3 3 38 22 19 1 6 9
Non Fatal Offences Against the Person 706 695 699 35 33 39 380 420 413 40 46 57 14 33 26 204 109 112 33 54 52
Public Order Offences 103 104 88 0 5 3 49 59 35 8 1 6 2 0 2 42 26 27 2 13 15
Revenue Offences 15 14 12 0 1 0 2 4 4 0 1 0 0 1 0 13 6 8 0 1 0
Other Offences 265 213 217 8 7 7 167 159 149 2 1 4 3 1 3 75 42 36 10 3 18
GRAND TOTAL 2890 2669 2783 70 112 105 1800 1798 1876 68 76 102 45 67 71 819 455 439 88 161 190
CHART 8A BREAKDOWN OF 'OTHER DISPOSALS' FROM CHART 8
 

2005

2004

2003
Accused Deceased 1 1 8
Nolle Prosequi Entered 77 136 118
Struck Out 9 8 17
Charges not Reentered 0 2 12
Charges Withdrawn 0 6 20
Convicted in District Court 0 0 4
Dealt with summarily 0 8 9
Unfit to Plead 0 0 1
Case Terminated by Judicial Review 1 0 1
TOTAL 88 161 190
CHART 8B TOTAL CASES FINALISED AND PERCENTAGE OF CONVICTIONS
 

TOTAL

Conviction
 

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003
Fatal Accident at Work 5 4 8 80% 100% 100%
Fatal Road Traffic Accident 34 45 31 76% 87% 84%
Manslaughter 9 6 9 89% 67% 56%
Other Fatal Offences 0 0 1 N/A N/A 100%
TOTAL - FATAL OFFENCES 48 55 49 79% 85% 82%
Burglary 211 197 218 94% 95% 95%
Fraud 30 47 38 100% 91% 92%
Robbery 404 336 333 99% 96% 98%
Other Offences Against Property 123 147 166 94% 94% 92%
TOTAL - OFFENCES AGAINST PROPERTY 768 727 755 97% 95% 96%
Buggery 0 5 4 N/A 100% 100%
Child Pornography 4 6 26 100% 100% 96%
Sexual Assault 33 52 64 91% 92% 81%
Sex with an Underage Girl 2 8 12 100% 100% 100%
Other Sexual Offences 5 10 14 100% 100% 79%
TOTAL - SEXUAL OFFENCES 44 81 120 93% 95% 87%
Drug Offences 336 324 368 99% 99% 97%
Firearms and Explosives Offences 77 94 114 94% 91% 93%
Non Fatal Offences Against the Person 469 532 535 88% 85% 84%
Public Order Offences 59 65 46 83% 98% 83%
Revenue Offences 2 7 4 100% 71% 100%
Other Offences 180 168 163 97% 99% 96%
GRAND TOTAL 1983 2053 2154 94% 93% 92%

Chart 9 outlines the result of cases directed for prosecution in the Special Criminal Court.

CHART 9 OUTCOMES OF CASES PROSECUTED ON INDICTMENT IN THE SPECIAL CRIMINAL COURT
 

Total

Conviction by Judges

Conviction on Plea

Conviction on Lesser Charge

Acquittal by Judges

For Hearing
 

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003
Firearms and Explosives Offences 5 0 12 0 0 1 2 0 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0
Membership of Unlawful Organisation & Related Offences 6 9 24 2 2 7 1 4 3 0 0 12 1 1 2 2 2 0
TOTAL 11 9 36 2 2 8 3 4 14 0 0 12 1 1 2 5 2 0
CHART 9A BREAKDOWN OF 'CONVICTIONS ON LESSER CHARGE' FOR PERSONS CHARGED WITH MEMBERSHIP OF UNLAWFUL ORGANISATION AND RELATED OFFENCES
 

Total

Conviction by Jury

Conviction on Plea
 

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003
Firearms and Explosives Offences 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 12
TOTAL 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 12
CHART 9B TOTAL CASES FINALISED AND PERCENTAGE OF CONVICTIONS
 

Total

Conviction
 

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003
Firearms and Explosives Offences 2 0 12 100% N/A 100%
Membership of Unlawful Organisation & Related Offences 4 7 24 75% 86% 92%
TOTAL 6 7 36 83% 86% 94%

Chart 10 outlines the result of cases directed for prosecution in the Central Criminal Court and breaks down all cases by the most serious charge directed against the defendant. Supplementary charts break down the 'convictions on a lesser charge' and the 'other disposals' outcomes.

CHART 10 OUTCOMES OF CASES PROSECUTED ON INDICTMENT IN THE CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT
 

Total

Conviction by Jury

Conviction on Plea

Conviction on Lesser Charge

Acquittal by Jury

Acquittal by Direction of Judge

Other Disposals

For Hearing
 

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003
Murder 31 33 43 12 14 18 3 4 4 7 5 13 2 1 2 0 2 4 0 1 1 7 6 1
Soliciting to Murder 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Rape 62 55 48 9 8 7 19 18 12 3 3 4 4 3 12 0 5 0 0 3 8 27 15 5
Attempted Murder 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Attempted Rape 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Aggravated Sexual Assault 1 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
TOTAL CASES 96 91 94 22 22 25 24 24 16 10 8 19 6 5 15 0 7 4 0 4 9 34 21 6
CHART 10A BREAKDOWN OF 'CONVICTIONS ON LESSER CHARGE' FOR CASES CATEGORISED AS MURDER OR ATTEMPTED MURDER
 

Total

Conviction by Jury

Conviction on Plea
 

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003
Manslaughter 6 4 12 6 2 8 0 2 4
Impeding the Apprehension or Prosection of Another 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Withholding Information 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Obstructing a Garda 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
Assault causing Harm 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
Assault Causing Serious Harm 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
TOTAL 7 5 14 6 2 8 1 3 6
CHART 10B BREAKDOWN OF 'CONVICTIONS ON LESSER CHARGE' FOR CASES CATEGORISED AS RAPE OR ATTEMPT TO RAPE
 

Total

Conviction by Jury

Conviction on Plea
 

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003
Aggravated Sexual Assault 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 1
Sexual Assault 2 1 2 0 0 1 2 1 1
Sex with an Underage Girl 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
Possesion of Firearms with Intent to Endanger Life 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Intent to Endanger Life 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Attempted Rape 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0
TOTAL 3 3 5 1 0 2 2 3 3
CHART 10C BREAKDOWN OF 'OTHER DISPOSALS'
 

2005

2004

2003
Nolle Prosequi Entered 0 4 7
Not fit to be tried 0 0 1
Struck Out 0 0 1
TOTAL 0 4 9
CHART 10D TOTAL CASES FINALISED AND PERCENTAGE OF CONVICTIONS (INCLUDING CONVICTIONS ON A LESSER CHARGE)
 

Total

Conviction
 

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003
Murder 24 26 41 92% 88% 85%
Soliciting to Murder 1 0 0 100% N/A N/A
Rape 35 37 35 89% 78% 66%
Attempted Murder 0 0 1 N/A N/A 100%
Attempted Rape 1 1 2 100% 100% 50%
Aggravated Sexual Assault 1 2 0 100% 50% N/A
TOTAL 62 66 79 90% 82% 76%

Chart 11 breaks down the case verdicts for each circuit criminal court. Unlike Chart 8, it does not include cases 'for hearing' or cases where the outcome is other than conviction or acquittal. Please note that in some cases, a trial may be held in a circuit court for a county other than that in which the offence was committed.

CHART 11 OUTCOMES OF CASES PROSECUTED ON INDICTMENT IN THE CIRCUIT CRIMINAL COURT BY COUNTY
 

Total

Conviction by Jury

Conviction on Plea

Acquittal by Jury

Acquittal by Direction of Judge
 

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003
Carlow 16 5 15 2 0 2 14 5 10 0 0 2 0 0 1
Cavan 12 22 23 1 0 0 10 21 21 0 1 2 1 0 0
Clare 30 46 49 5 0 3 21 40 38 4 2 7 0 4 1
Cork 250 193 224 8 13 10 221 164 195 11 0 9 10 16 10
Donegal 22 29 45 0 2 3 22 26 39 0 1 3 0 0 0
Dublin 1113 1142 1152 27 46 41 1046 1037 1046 24 33 36 16 26 29
Galway 31 56 31 0 4 0 30 51 27 1 1 3 0 0 1
Kerry 31 47 50 1 6 1 26 37 41 2 4 5 2 0 3
Kildare 63 62 45 1 13 4 59 38 37 2 8 4 1 3 0
Kilkenny 21 35 14 1 9 1 16 24 11 2 1 2 2 1 0
Laois 16 18 10 0 0 2 15 17 8 1 0 0 0 1 0
Leitrim 4 3 14 0 0 1 4 3 13 0 0 0 0 0 0
Limerick 56 48 60 5 2 2 45 41 49 1 5 5 5 0 4
Longford 8 8 9 1 0 1 7 8 8 0 0 0 0 0 0
Louth 18 53 47 1 2 8 13 47 35 2 2 4 2 2 0
Mayo 38 37 26 2 5 2 30 25 21 6 6 1 0 1 2
Meath 52 31 41 2 0 0 46 29 39 2 2 1 2 0 1
Monaghan 13 16 21 0 0 1 11 14 19 1 1 1 1 1 0
Offaly 14 9 22 0 0 5 14 7 16 0 1 0 0 1 1
Roscommon 12 18 17 0 1 0 11 17 17 0 0 0 1 0 0
Sligo 32 30 37 2 2 3 28 22 32 1 1 0 1 5 2
Tipperary 20 23 33 3 0 2 15 20 26 2 1 1 0 2 4
Waterford 35 38 64 4 3 4 27 34 48 3 0 7 1 1 5
Westmeath 22 18 28 4 0 2 17 16 23 1 0 3 0 2 0
Wexford 17 23 39 0 2 7 15 18 23 2 3 4 0 0 5
Wicklow 37 43 29 0 2 0 37 37 25 0 3 2 0 1 2
TOTAL 1983 2053 2145 70 112 105 1800 1798 1867 68 76 102 45 67 71
CHART 11A TOTAL CASES FINALISED AND PERCENTAGE OF CONVICTIONS
   

Total

    

Conviction

  
 

2005

2004

2003

2005

2004

2003
Carlow 16 5 15 100% 100% 80%
Cavan 12 22 23 92% 95% 91%
Clare 30 46 49 87% 87% 84%
Cork 250 193 224 92% 92% 92%
Donegal 22 29 45 100% 97% 93%
Dublin 1113 1142 1152 96% 95% 94%
Galway 31 56 31 97% 98% 87%
Kerry 31 47 50 87% 91% 84%
Kildare 63 62 45 95% 82% 91%
Kilkenny 21 35 14 81% 94% 86%
Laois 16 18 10 94% 94% 100%
Leitrim 4 3 14 100% 100% 100%
Limerick 56 48 60 89% 90% 85%
Longford 8 8 9 100% 100% 100%
Louth 18 53 47 78% 92% 91%
Mayo 38 37 26 84% 81% 88%
Meath 52 31 41 92% 94% 95%
Monaghan 13 16 21 85% 88% 95%
Offaly 14 9 22 100% 78% 95%
Roscommon 12 18 17 92% 100% 100%
Sligo 32 30 37 94% 80% 95%
Tipperary 20 23 33 90% 87% 85%
Waterford 35 38 64 89% 97% 81%
Westmeath 22 18 28 95% 89% 89%
Wexford 17 23 39 88% 87% 77%
Wicklow 37 43 29 100% 91% 86%
TOTAL 1983 2053 2145 94% 93% 92%

Chart 12 shows the breakdown of office expenditure for 2006, 2005 & 2004.

Salaries & Wages: This represents the cost of salaries of staff employed in the Office. The total staff complement at 1 January 2006 was 168.53.

Office Expenses: This relates to general office administration costs e.g. purchase and maintenance of office equipment, office supplies, library costs, office premises maintenance, travel and other incidental expenses.

Fees to Counsel: These are fees paid to the barristers who prosecute cases on behalf of the Director in the various criminal courts. Fees are set within the parameters set by the Minister for Finance.

General Law Expenses: This refers to the payment of legal costs awarded by the courts in judicial review matters and other applications connected to legal proceedings against the Director.

CHART 12 OFFICE EXPENDITURE
 

2006

%

2005

%

2004

%
 

€

  

€

  

€

  
Salaries Wages & Allowances 10,132,015 32% 9,527,979 32% 8,458,701 30%
Office Expenses 2,960,447 10% 3,011,535 10% 2,926,165 10%
Fees to Counsel 12,085,966 38% 13,004,323 43% 12,374,056 43%
General Law Expenses 6,304,827 20% 4,615,021 15% 4,902,298 17%
TOTAL 31,483,255   30,158,858   28,661,220  

Charts 13 & 14 show a breakdown of expenditure on fees to counsel in the various criminal courts and by region in respect of the Circuit Criminal Court.

Fees paid to counsel in the Circuit, Central & Special Criminal Courts cover advising on proofs, drafting indictments, holding consultations, arraignments, presentation of the case and other necessary appearances e.g. for sentence.

Expenditure on fees in the High Court covers mainly bail applications and the preparatory work and hearings associated with judicial reviews.

CHART 13 FEES TO COUNSEL PAID BY COURT
 

2006

%

2005

%

2004

%
 

€

  

€

  

€

  
Circuit Court 5,969,616 50% 6,136,922 48% 5,659,687 46%
Central Criminal Court 3,388,237 28% 4,052,328 31% 3,961,620 32%
High Court 1,370,451 11% 1,446,021 11% 1,496,433 12%
Supreme Court 278,533 2% 158,891 1% 217,260 2%
Court of Criminal Appeal 845,148 7% 763,712 6% 710,182 6%
Special Criminal Court 208,341 2% 415,263 3% 267,303 2%
District Court 25,640 0% 31,188 0% 61,571 0%
TOTAL 12,085,966   13,004,325   12,374,056  

CHART 14 FEES TO COUNSEL PAID BY CIRCUIT
 

2006

%

2005

%

2004

%
 

€

  

€

  

€

  
Dublin Circuit 3,154,658 53% 3,510,505 57% 3,688,480 64%
Cork Circuit 475,056 8% 572,634 9% 226,288 4%
Eastern Circuit 566,842 10% 435,435 7% 384,148 7%
Midland Circuit 476,537 8% 350,921 6% 337,059 6%
South Eastern Circuit 558,824 9% 555,370 9% 548,822 10%
South Western Circuit 167,750 3% 221,661 4% 147,058 3%
Western Circuit 186,221 3% 237,047 4% 169,800 3%
Northern Circuit 383,728 6% 253,349 4% 158,032 3%
TOTAL 5,969,616   6,136,922   5,659,687