The number of rape and murder cases before the courts in the Republic fell by over a third in the three years ending 2004, according to the Court Service annual report published today.
Murder cases over the period was down to 28, having peaked at 59 in 2002, while the number of cases disposed of increased by 84 per cent since 2001. The number rape cases over the three years fell 56 per cent from 92 to 40 but the number of cases disposed of fell by 26.5 per cent.
Four new High Court judges were appointed in 2001 to address the massive backlog in murder and rape (including aggravated sexual assaults) cases and the waiting time for bringin the cases to trial has fallen from up to 2 years in before 2001 to 10 months in 2004.
The annual report said there were 127 judges supported by 1,030 staff in 180 court venues aroudn the State. They dealt with 770,000 matters last year. The number and variety of cases before teh courts remain high while the number being dealt with annually is also up.
The report was presented today by the Chief Justice the Hon. Mr Justice John L Murray to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Chief Justice Murray said: "The constant evolution in our social and economic environments has resulted in continuous growth in the range and nature of the services which the Courts Service is required to provide."
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said increased investment in the courts infrastructure was reaping rewards "and is making great strides towards meeting its goal to provide a first class service to judges, practitioners and all other court users.
"Funding of €97.99m was secured... allowing the Courts Service to progress the implementation of its strategic plans and policies specifically in the areas of Information Technology and Capital Building Programmes," Mr McDowell said.
The courthouse building programme is continuing with major projects completed in Castlebar and Ennis last year. Mr McDowell looked forward to the purpose-built Criminal Courts Complex planned for Dublin where all criminal cases dealt with by District, Circuit and Central Criminal Courts will be transferred from the Four Courts.
The project will be built by Public/Private Partnership and located at Infirmary Road with construction due to start next year.
Over 1,500 cases were before the Children's Court in Dublin last year with detentions ordered in 222 cases and 65 sent forward to higher court because of the seriousness of the offence.
Mr McDowell said the youth justice system was still undergoing reform and must work still needed to be done. The Children's Court is "an essential element of the youth justice framework".
The Children's Act - elements of which have controversially not been implemented - "introduces a wide range of innovative measures," the minister and acknowledged the complexity of the issue saying the policy involved many departments and agencies.
"Clear strategic leadership is needed to drive a coordinated approach to youth offending" he said. A report by the Youth Justice Project Team was due in the Autumn, he added.
Other statistics in the Court Service annual report showed:
- 400 written judgements last year, compared to 215 in 2001
- increase of 37 per cent in non-asylum judicial reviews cases since 2001
- judicial review of asylum cases increased by 76 per cent compared to 2003
- number of cases before District Courts fell by 7 per cent
- €49 million in fines and fees collected last year