Over 1,200 human trafficking cases before courts since 2010

The majority of cases related to sexual exploitation of children, trafficking of children for sexual exploitation, or attempts to do the same.

Over 1,200 human trafficking-related cases have come before the courts during the last 13 years, with the majority of these relating to the exploitation of children.

New figures released by the Courts Service show that a total of 1,223 human trafficking-related offences have come before the courts since 2010, with 207 individuals facing cases.

The vast majority of these individuals, 198, were before the courts in relation to sexual exploitation of children, trafficking of children for sexual exploitation, or attempts to do the same.

The figures, provided to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín, show that the highest number of offences were before the courts in 2019, with 333 cases in total over the year.

In 2020, a total of 157 offences were before the courts, while this rose to 282 offences in 2021. The number of offences fell to 17 in 2022, said the Courts Service.

So far in 2023, there have been 53 human trafficking-related cases before the courts, it said.

Mr Tóibín said that human trafficking is occurring “in plain sight” across the country.

“Human trafficking is something which is very much hidden in plain sight in Ireland. It’s happening, I believe, in every town in the country,” said Mr Tóibín.

“We know that in recent years the US government placed Ireland on a watchlist due to our poor record when it comes to trafficking. It is truly shocking that the primary form of human trafficking in this country is the sexual exploitation of children.

"Our poor conviction rate in the courts is a cause of national shame.”

Figures also show that 42 victims of human trafficking were identified in 2022. Of these, five incidents were related specifically to child trafficking. Four incidents have been reported so far in 2023.

Action plan

Justice Minister Helen McEntee, responding to parliamentary questions, confirmed that the Government intends to publish an action plan on human trafficking “shortly”.

“Officials in my department are working on finalising our new National Action Plan on Human Trafficking which we expect to publish shortly. It will set out how the multi-agency work to combat this criminal activity and support victims will be taken forward,” said Ms McEntee.

Last year, the US State Department removed Ireland from its human trafficking watchlist, after the country spent two years on the tier two watchlist. While Ireland remains in tier two, the report highlighted moves to address human trafficking, including a new national referral mechanism which makes it easier for victims to come forward.