Access to porn ‘fuelling sex crime’

Gardaí believe greater access to hardcore porn is fuelling sharp rises in the number of sex offences committed by juveniles.

Figures show 250 sex crimes were carried out by under-18s in 2011, compared to 195 in 2010 and 74 in 2009. The number of rapes has risen from 17 in 2009 to 50 in 2010 and to 85 in 2011.

The number of cases of defilement of a child under 17 has increased from 10 in 2010 to 33 in 2011.