Seizures of firearms and illicit drugs rose considerably last year despite an overall drop in criminal activity, according to the annual report of An Garda Síochána.
The value of cocaine seized increased three-fold, to €7.5 million, while 11 times more ecstasy tablets, or 1.3 million tablets, were seized last year compared with 2002.
It was gangland crime that bucked the overall falling crime trend last year. The value of the most popular illicit drugs - cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, cannabis and amphetamines - seized in 2003 rose to €65 million, from €36 million in 2002. Despite this the number of drug-related offences, in respect of which criminal proceedings were initiated, declined by 20 per cent to 6,758 cases.
Similarly, the number of firearms seized increased considerably despite a decline in the numbers of people convicted for firearms offences. Last year 270 shotguns were seized, compared with 230 in 2002. Machine-gun seizures were up to seven from two, rifles up to 124, from 68, and pistols up to 45, from 27.
There were just 10 convictions for possession of a firearm in 2003, compared with 31 convictions in 2002. There were no convictions last year for the offence of discharging of a firearm, despite the fact that 210 cases became known to gardaí while there were two convictions in 2002.
The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, welcomed the three drop in crime. He said it underlined the "efficient and effective" manner in which the Garda Commissioner, Mr Noel Conroy, and his force had carried out their duties.
Mr McDowell "particularly welcomed" the lower murder rate last year, down seven to 45. "I am very encouraged that the number of murders has been steadily declining since 2001... These figures show a further 20 per cent decrease in murders compared to the same period in 2003," he said.
As well as murder, assault causing harm was down by 20 per cent, and sexual offences were down by 22 per cent. Mr McDowell said many robberies, thefts from the person and other similar offences involved taking mobile telephones. New technology allowing mobile phone companies to disable telephones once they are reported stolen should lead to a "steep decline" in the level of such thefts, he said.
Assaults causing serious harm were down by 22 per cent, while the number of "minor offence" assaults declined by 23 per cent. Criminal damage offences recorded a 22 per cent decline, public order crimes fell by two per cent and intoxicating liquor offences were down by four per cent.
Labour's justice spokesman, Mr Costello TD, said despite the overall drop in crime Ireland "clearly remains in the midst of a crime wave".
"With gun crime increasing by 40 per cent in the first nine months of 2004, rape increasing by 75 per cent in the same period, and unlawful carnal knowledge increasing by 173 per cent, there is certainly no reason for complacency despite the slight overall drop in headline crime [last year]."
Fine Gael's justice spokesman, Mr Jim O'Keeffe TD, said the reality was that there were now 10,000 more offences being committed every year than when the Government took office seven years ago.
