McDowell urges bail rethink as serious crime rate surges

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell has urged a clampdown on bail for repeat offenders as latest figures show murders, drug offences, thefts and violent robberies have all increased.

Overall serious crime increased by 8% in the early months of the year, compared to the same period last year but murders showed the biggest single increase, almost doubling from seven in the first three months of 2005 to 12 from January to March this year.

Mr McDowell described the increase as disappointing but said just four of the 12 murders were shootings while the rest included domestic killings.