There have been 139 murders in the State between 1992 and last year, according to figures released yesterday by the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue. The figures showed that the number of murders in 1996 - 44 - was more than double the 1992 figure of 20. There were fewer murders in 1993 when 17 people were killed, 21 in 1994 and 37 in 1995.

In reply to a written question by Mr John V. Farrelly (FG, Meath), the Minister stressed that some cases, currently classed as murder, may be reclassified later as manslaughter. He told Mr Paul McGrath (FG, Westmeath) that the number of barring orders dealt with by the courts had risen from 3,497 in 1986 to 5,120 up to July last year. In 1996 1,476 orders were granted compared to 2,059 up to July last year.