Suspects for 1,491 crimes carried out in Donegal in the last three years were on bail release, it has been revealed.
Nationally, 114,655 suspects were implicated in crime while on bail.
The figures, which account for crimes between 2022 and 2024, were described as shocking by Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Matt Carthy TD.
In the Donegal division, 442 crimes in 2022 involved suspected offenders on bail, 542 in 2023 and 507 in 2024.
Deputy McCarthy says 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.
He said the figures point 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,” Deputy McCarthy said.
“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.”
