Judges ‘not viewing burglary as a serious offence’

A senior Department of Justice official has said judges “don’t view burglary as a serious offence”, despite high-profile cases showing rural Ireland is facing an escalating burglary crime wave.

Department of Justice assistant secretary general Jimmy Martin said officials have a perception that courts are failing to take the matter as seriously as they should, potentially sparking a divisive row between the State and the judiciary.

Speaking at the latest Dáil’s public accounts committee meeting, the senior civil servant said despite recent coalition measures to tackle a spate of burglaries there is a belief within Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald’s department the issue is not being treated as seriously as required.