The number of personal injuries cases rose by 122 per cent last year while murder and manslaughter cases increased by 18 per cent, according to new statistics published by the Courts Service today.
The 2007 Courts Service annual report highlights a rise in killings brought before the courts, from 33 in 2006 to 39 cases last year. The number of rape cases to come before the courts increased by 26 per cent to 73 in 2007. Of the 76 rapes decided on in 2007 there were 48 convictions, according to the report.
Road traffic offences accounted for over half of all cases to come before the District Courts in 2007. The number of road traffic cases totalled 281,641, an increase of more than 25 per cent on the 2006 figure. Drink driving was the most common offence, with 30,257 cases coming before the courts. This figure was an increase of 94 per cent on the 2005 figure of 15,540.
The largest increase in court cases related to personal injuries. The number of personal injury cases in 2007 totalled 5,951 an increase of 122 per cent on the 2,673 cases in 2006, and 700 per cent on 746 cases in 2005. Awards were made in 133 personal injury cases in the High Court in 2007, with the highest award totalling €2.5 million. The total amount awarded in all cases was €21,847,190.
Last year also saw a 70 per cent increase in cases relating to medical negligence. The number of medical negligence cases in 2007 totalled 566, an increase of 70 per cent on the 334 cases in 2006.
The report also highlighted a decrease in applications for liquor licences. Applications for new pub licenses were down 17 per cent, while applications for new hotel bar licenses were down 36 per cent. The circuit court granted 267 new pub licenses in 2007, a decrease on the 322 licenses granted in 2006, and 62 new hotel bar licenses compared to 98 licenses in 2006.
Small Claims cases increased by 25 per cent jumping from 2,990 cases in 2006 to 3,734 cases in 2007. Furniture complaints saw the biggest increase, 94 per cent, accounting for 311 cases, up from 160 cases in 2006. Complaints regarding damage to private property increased by 92 per cent from 158 cases in 2006 to 303 cases in 2007.
Applications under domestic violence legislation increased by almost 15 per cent with the number of protection orders sought increasing by 21 per cent and applications for safety orders increasing by 16 per cent. The amount of protection orders granted to parents in 2007 was 467, an increase of 48 per cent on the 2006 figure of 316. The number of safety orders granted to parents in 2007 more than doubled since 2006, increasing from 102 cases to 219 cases.