Sexual offences and drug charges on the rise according to new court data

30,018 new drug cases before the District Court last year, compared to 27,783 in 2024.

Likewise, public order and assault cases also showed an increase of 11% according to the report published today.

Among other increases, the report also shows a rise in drug offences, sexual offences, assault, and public order offences last year.

Regarding sentences in rape cases, the Central Criminal Court saw trials relating to 1,149 offences. 444 sentences for Rape (including attempted rape) were handed down last year, 58% of them being for ten years or more.

The chairperson of the board of the Courts Service, Justice Aileen Donnelly highlighted that “new sexual offences show an increase of 13.6% over two years, perhaps reflecting a greater level of reporting and follow-up of these crimes.”​

However, there has also been some positive progress. Road traffic offences showed a 22% reduction over seven years.

Donnelly referred to this data as something that “might well reflect a change in attitudes amongst the driving public to road safety, and compliance with rules of the road, as increased awareness campaigns and enforcement have taken affect”.

In the youth courts, juveniles before the District Court faced charges in relation to 574 drugs matters, 1,070 larcenies, 651 public order matters and 853 road traffic matters.

Juvenile charges relating to public order fell 14%, and those relating to road traffic charges fell by 18.6%.

The report comes as the Oireachtas committee has recommended the decriminalisation of possession of all drugs for personal use just last month.

TDs and Senators on the Joint Committee on Drugs Use believe Section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 should be repealed, they point to a vast body of evidence which suggests decriminalisation is unlikely to lead to an increase in consumption.

"The committee has concluded that the personal possession of drugs for one's own use should cease to be treated as a criminal matter and should instead be met with a health-led approach,” Fianna Fail senator and committee chair Mary Fitzpatrick said.