Ireland tops study on young male homicides

IRELAND has the highest homicide rate of young men in western Europe and the second highest rate of knife killings, according to the World Health Organisation.

A massive study by the UN body said Ireland had admitted it had a “big problem” with knife violence — one of just six European countries to do so.

A homicide victims’ support group described the report as “very shocking” and said the level of violence among young people was a “huge problem” that needed a national response.