Suspects in more than 2,700 crimes across Cork last year were on bail release

Suspects in more than 2,700 crimes in Cork city and county during 2024 were on bail release, it has been revealed.

The figure has prompted Cork South Central Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire to call for a review of bail laws.

“While many of these crimes would be considered relatively minor, some have been very serious, including those which have resulted in the loss of life,” he said. 

“We need to get this right. The public will not tolerate a situation where dangerous criminals are repeatedly released on bail to commit further crimes.”

Suspects in 2,082 crimes in Cork city were on bail last year. This is compared to 1,690 in 2022 and 1,856 during 2023.

Suspects in 687 crimes in Co Cork were on bail in 2024. While this represents a decrease compared to 2023 in the county, down from 820 to 687, it is an increase compared to the 2022 figure of 667.

The combined number of crimes in Cork city over the past three years where suspects were on bail amounted to 5,628, while the figure for the same period in the county is 2,174.

The figures were detailed under the Garda Pulse system up to February 28 of this year.

OVER 40,000 CRIMES NATIONALLY

Across the country, there were suspects in 40,348 crimes who were on bail release.

The figures were disclosed in a response to a Dáil question from Sinn Féin justice spokesperson Matt Carthy.

Mr Ó Laoghaire said that while bail had a place in the system, and many on bail were in no danger of carrying out a crime, the figure disclosed in the response highlighted that there was an issue “that needs to be considered and addressed”.

“These figures show that bail laws need to be examined to ensure that they are being appropriately applied where there is a risk of someone committing further crimes while on bail,” he said.

“The Government must address this issue as a matter of urgency.

“If the bail laws are not working, as these figures suggest, then the Government must act.

“If we are to deliver safe communities and reduce the level of crime, we cannot accept a situation where this level of crime is being carried out by those on bail.”

In the response provided to Mr Carthy, minister for justice Jim O’Callaghan said that a person’s liberty was a serious issue, as people were deemed innocent until proven guilty.

“The Bail Act contains robust provisions on dealing and pre-empting breaches of bail,” he said.

“Where an individual fails to comply with any bail conditions, a judge may issue a bench warrant mandating a member of An Gárda Síochána to arrest and bring the person before the court.”

He added that the legislation provided for a person who is convicted of an offence carried out while on bail to be sentenced to serve consecutive jail terms for the offences.

Nationally, 25% of the crimes were for public order, and 23% related to thefts.