More than one person on average raped every day

MORE than one person was raped on average every day in the Republic this year, official crime figures have shown.

There were 102 recorded cases between January and March which represents a 25% rise in serious sex attacks on the same period last year.

Central Statistics Office (CSO) figures show a 35% drop in the number of murders committed in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period last year. In the 12 months to end of March, there were 54 murders and manslaughter offences, including 14 murders, one more than in the previous 12 months. The number of drugs offences, including possession for personal use, also increased, as did robbery, extortion and hijacking offences and kidnappings.