A reform of bail laws promised by the Government will help to make Galway and the rest of the country a safer place to live, Minister of State Noel Grealish has predicted.
Hundreds of offenders in the city and county were among the hordes of Irish criminals who committed more than 40,000 crimes while out on bail last year, the Galway West Independent TD said.
Minister Grealish welcomed the commitment of Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan to reform the laws surrounding the granting of bail, following the publication of a report that outlines 15 key changes that could be made to protect the community better.
“This is something I have been highlighting in the Dáil for years now, bringing the attention of successive Taoisigh to the rapidly increasing numbers of criminals who are caught, go to court and are let out on bail only to continue their lives of crime.
“People might be shocked to learn that there has been a 25% increase in these numbers in the Galway Garda Division, which covers the city and county, in just two years.
“In 2022, the number of crime incidents in Galway where the suspected offender was out on bail was 920, the following year that rose to 1,123 and last year the numbers went up to a total of 1,156,” he said, adding that that rate of increase is even greater than the 20% rise in such offences for the country overall, which totalled 42,603 last year – “and it simply can’t go on.”
The 15 recommendations for change were contained in a report on the operation of bail in Ireland, commissioned by the Justice Minister and prepared by Senior Counsel Lorcan Staines.
The recommendations include improved information-sharing systems for both An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service; the implementation of an adult bail supervision scheme; the amending of current bail legislation to significantly expand the conditions which may be attached; and further legislative amendments.
“Minister O’Callaghan has asked officials in his Department to set about considering the feasibility of implementing each of these suggested changes and that can’t happen quickly enough,” said Minister Grealish.
“The law-abiding people of Ireland have for too long been terrorised, robbed, assaulted and more by repeat offenders who have no regard for the law and for whom a day is court is just a brief interruption of their criminals ways.
“Official figures show that burglars, for example, are major serial offenders for whom even a spell in prison doesn’t act as a deterrent to their future behaviour.
“Very often, offenders charged with offences go on to commit even worse crimes when let out in bail, running the whole gamut from theft and drugs offences to sexual crimes and murder.
“Tragically, there have been at least two murders in Galway this century, that I know of, committed by people who were out on bail for less serious offences at the time.
“I very much welcome these moves to tighten up the bail laws, and I will be liaising with Minister O’Callaghan to ensure that the works of his officials to prepare the way for legislative changes is carried out as quickly as possible.
“They have the potential to make Galway and the whole country a much safer place to live,” ,” added Deputy Grealish, who is Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and sits at Cabinet.
