Insolvency cases before courts double

The number of business and debt-related cases coming before the Irish courts doubled last year, with applications to appoint examiners to companies in difficulty rising by 71 per cent, according to the Courts Service annual report.

The effects of the economic downturn contributed to increased activity across a range of headings last year, with the report - published today - showing a 103 per cent increase in cases for recovery of possession of land or premises in the High Court and a 63 per cent rise in the number of actions for recovery of debt.

The figures also show a 106 per cent jump in the number of applications to the High Court relating to the behaviour of solicitors, while the economic decline helps explain a 40 per cent fall in hotel licence applications and a 33 per cent drop in applications to renew pub licences.

Significant increases were recorded across a range of crime headings. These include a 17 per cent increase in new cases in the Central Criminal Court, which deals with murder and rape, and a 26 per cent rise in the number of criminal cases in the District Court.

In the same court, there was a 58 per cent increase in drug offence cases and a dramatic 290 per cent rise in sexual offences. Some 60 per cent of all criminal cases in the District Court related to road traffic offences.

On family law matters, the Courts Service report showed no significant change in the divorce figures, with a 3 per cent increase (to 4,214 divorces) broadly in line with the trend over recent years. However, separation cases rose 15 per cent, to 1,966, with over 70 per cent of separations initiated by the wife. In 2008, there was an eight per cent fall in the number of domestic violence applications to the District Court.

In his introduction to the report the Chief Justice, Mr Justice John Murray, noted that economic and social changes were being reflected in the work of the courts.

He said economic expansion over the last decade or so had substantially altered the depth and breadth of the Irish economy "so that there has been a substantial growth in the volume of cases with serious commercial interests at stake."

"Notwithstanding the downturn in the economy, that is likely to continue to be the case although that downturn will also bring other challenges arising from cases generated by its consequences," he said.

"Societal changes will also continue to have an impact, such as population growth and the diversity within it."