National DNA database assists 800 criminal investigations 

The national DNA database contained more than 67,000 DNA profiles by the close of 2022.

The national DNA database assisted almost 800 criminal investigations, including for violent and sexual crimes, in 2022.

The database contained more than 67,000 DNA profiles by the close of 2022, compared to around 58,700 the previous year.

The oversight body for the database said the importance of the system “cannot be overstated” and that it is essential to the criminal justice system.

The DNA database system oversight committee, chaired by Judge Catherine A Murphy, raised concerns about the impact of increasing demand on existing staff at Forensic Science Ireland (FSI).

Judge Murphy said there are concerns about the ongoing failure to send samples to the DNA database from a small number of Garda divisions.

The report said the number of DNA profiles on the database increased by 15% in 2022 while the number of crime stains [DNA samples taken from crime scenes] on the database rose by 13%.

It said that a total of 796 investigations were assisted by the DNA database in 2023.

The committee report said FSI issued more than 23,500 forensic reports in 2022, an increase of 83% on 2018.

"This increase is due to the dramatic growth in DNA and biological analysis services provided over the period (increased by 33%), growth in the number of drug reports issued (increased by 55%) and the integration of fingerprint and documents and handwriting [from An Garda Síochána] investigations into FSI," it said.

The committee notes, however, that increased demand for services may result in a strain on staff resources available."

The report said there are “serious concerns” about “a significant backlog” of prisoners whose samples had not been taken since early 2020, introduced under covid restrictions.

In a statement, the Irish Prison Service said: “The Irish Prison Service recommenced DNA sampling in 2023 following a pause during the covid pandemic. The Irish Prison Service processed a total of 3482 prisoners in the period between 01 January 2023 to 06 January 2024.

“During 2023 the Irish Prison Service has taken and delivered 534 DNA samples to Forensic Science Ireland. The Irish Prison Service is on schedule to complete sampling on the covid-related backlog by the end of April 2024.”