Crime figures - Real decline or a failure to report?

The number of rape prosecutions in Irish courts halved in the past six years, despite evidence that rape is on the increase. We are clearly losing that battle.

New figures show that less than half of the people prosecuted for rape or sexual assault last year were convicted. Moreover, one third of the prison sentences upon conviction were for less than five years.

The annual report of the Courts Service indicated that 58 new rape and sexual assault cases were heard by the Central Criminal Court in 2006, which was an increase of around 30% on the cases taken the previous year, but the figure was almost half the 113 cases prosecuted in 2000.