Around 13 per cent of last year’s recorded crimes committed by individuals on bail

A total of 25,543 crimes out of 198,634 recorded by gardaí last year, including 6,214 thefts and 1,377 burglaries, were committed by individuals on bail in 2016.

That accounts for 10 per cent of thefts and 7 per cent of burglaries.

Individuals on bail were also responsible for two homicides and 24 rapes and sexual assaults.

According to the Central Statistics Office, the proportion of recorded crimes committed by individuals on bail has increased from nine per cent in 2011 to 13 per cent last year.

The Bail (Amendment) Bill was published last December as part of Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald’s bid to tighten bail rules.

The law would allow courts to refuse bail on a greater number of grounds and to attach more bail conditions, such as a prohibition on driving (where the offence is a serious road traffic offence) or a curfew.

Under the law, courts will also give reasons when bail is refused.