DPP report highlights delays in many serious cases

The latest annual report from the Director of Public Prosecutions highlights an ongoing delay in bringing many serious cases before the courts.

The reports shows that almost 3,500 cases were taken in 2006.

Sixty percent of those resulted in guilty verdicts, while 3% of the defendants were acquitted.

However, 35% of the cases had not been heard by April of this year, while a further 2% were either struck out or discontinued.

The DPP has also revealed that he decided to appeal 42 sentences last year on the grounds that they were too lenient.