SERIOUS crime in the State last year reached levels not seen since the early 1980s, according to official figures.
The Garda's annual report for 1995 shows 102,484 indictable crimes were recorded, an increase of about 1,500 on the previous year and above the 1983 "peak" of 102,387.
The report was published yesterday by the Minister for Justice, Mrs Owen, who expressed concern about the increased number of murders - up from 25 in 1994 to 41 last year - and a 43 per cent rise in sexual crime.
However, in the report, the former Garda Commissioner, Mr Patrick Culligan, was optimistic, Saying "the overall increase during the year was the lowest of this decade". He also pointed to the Garda's 38.8 per cent detention rate.
The increased level of sexual offences included 191 cases of reported rape (the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said yesterday that less than a third of victims of rape or other sexual crimes report the incident).
The Department of Justice said no particular measures were planned to combat the rise in sexual crime, but that the Government's general "crime package" legislation of recent months would have an impact.
The report shows the number of robberies and burglaries involving weapons fell - there were 542 such cases compared to 582 in 1994. There were 43 bank robberies compared to 47 the previous year.
It also reveals that the vast majority of the drug cases handled during the year concerned possession rather than dealing. During the year 3,730 people were charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act, and of these 2 954 or 79 per cent were charged with possession, while only 776 or 21 per cent were charged with having enough drugs to be classed a dealer.
Cannabis and cannabis resin were the drugs most often found, but there were 209 heroin cases and 571 ecstasy cases.
The report also shows the discipline section in Garda Headquarters in 1995 was as busy as the previous year. There were 319 new cases reported (compared to 323 in 1994). Of these, 242 were "dealt with informally or were not proceeded with". The remaining 77 were handled local divisional officer who led an inquiry. Gardai paid £9,000 in fines as a result of investigations.
The Fianna Pail Justice spokesman, Mr John O'Donoghue, said the Government should respond to the increase in sexual offences by setting up a national register of paedophiles. He also suggested a formal witness protection programme - for criminals who give evidence about their associates - and a 10 year minimum sentence for people found with drugs worth £10,000 or more in their possession.
Ms Liz O'Donnell of the PDs said the increase in violence and sexual offences meant the Government was failing to protect citizens. See also page 7