Nearly half of sexual offences recorded in 2016 committed by under-18s

According to the the annual report for 2016 of the monitoring committee of the Garda Juvenile Diversion Programme, 45 per cent of sexual offences recorded in 2016 were linked to under-18s.

That includes 56 per cent of underage sex offences under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006, 39 per cent of sexual assaults, 46 per cent of rapes, and 25 per cent of child pornography offences.

There were a total of 334 sexual offences by juvenile offenders recorded in 2016, up by 39 per cent on the previous year.

The monitoring committee’s report also highlights “a risk attached to the current process of management and supervision of child sexual offenders, with training and policy development required in this area in order for this issue to be effectively addressed”.

The committee is made up of Assistant Garda Commissioner Pat Leahy, Chief Garda Superintendent Karl Heller, youth worker Eddie D’Arcy, and barrister Dr Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.

Overall, there was a 10 per cent reduction in recorded crimes by juvenile offenders in 2016.