Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Matt Carthy TD, has described as ‘shocking’ figures provided to him by the Department, which reveal that suspects for 40,348 crimes carried out in 2024 were on bail release.

This was an increase of almost 5,000 since 2022.

The combined figure for the past three years of suspects implicated in crime while on bail amounted to 114,655.

Teachta Carthy said: 

“These figures released to me in a Parliamentary Question response are shocking.

“This week in the Dáil I raised my concerns with Minister O’Callaghan about the number of serious crimes being committed by those who have been released on bail. I said that bail laws need to be examined to ensure that they are being appropriately applied where there is a risk of someone committing further crimes while on bail.

“This PQ reply from the Minister outlining the number of crimes committed in the last three years where the suspect was on bail points to an urgency to deal with this matter. It is clear there has been a considerable rise in the number of crimes being committed by those on bail. The figures reveal that suspects for 40,348 crimes carried out in 2024 were on bail. This is a rise of almost 5,000 over a two-year period. 

“Of course many, if not most of the crimes, would be considered relatively minor. But some have been very serious, including those which have resulted in the loss of life. We need to get this right. The public will not tolerate a situation where dangerous criminals are repeatedly released on bail to commit further crimes.

“The Minister must address this issue as a matter of urgency. If the bail laws are not working, as these figures suggest, then the Minister must act. If we are to deliver safe communities and reduce the level of crime, we cannot accept a situation where this level of crime is being carried out by those on bail.”

The response to Deputy Carthy’s Parliamentary Question, which includes a regional breakdown of figures, can be read here.