15 out of 52 people accused of murder convicted last year

LESS than one-third of all people brought before Irish courts on murder charges last year were convicted of the crime.

The latest figures released by the Courts Service show 52 murder cases were heard in the Central Criminal Court in 2006, an increase from 42 on the previous year.

Convictions were secured in 15 of the 52 cases while a further 18 people, accused of murder, were found guilty of manslaughter. Four others were convicted of lesser offences, including violent disorder, while nine murder accused walked free. In the remaining six cases, two people were found not guilty by reason of insanity while the State entered a nolle prosequi (drop prosecution of) against the other accused.

Statistics from the Court Services’ annual report showed 80% of murder accused plead not guilty, leading to a full hearing before judge and jury.

Seventeen people were handed life sentences while 13 people, found guilty of homicide, were given between five and 10 years’ imprisonment with three sentenced to less than five years in jail for unlawful killings.

The average length of a murder trial last year was nine days, while a total of 19,000 people were summoned to jury duty for Central Criminal Court cases which included serious offences such as rape and murder.

Meanwhile, the report also showed a total of 263 murder cases had been brought before the Irish courts since 2000. The highest number was in 2004 when there were 59 cases.

The Law Reform Commission is examining the possibility of introducing a third homicide offence.

The offence would cover incidents such as manslaughter by neglect or a road death accident.

A proposal on homicide offences is being drafted by the commission and will be presented to the Government, along with a draft Bill, before the end of the year.