Courts handled 100,000 more cases in 2003

The number of cases dealt with by the courts last year increased by 100,000, to a total of almost 800,000, according to the 2003 annual report of the Courts Service.

The number of personal injuries hearings increased significantly - up by 98 per cent since 2001, as more defendants fight claims instead of settling with claimants out of court.

The number of company directors restricted from practising by the courts almost trebled last year, up to 55 in 2003 from 19 in 2002. The unprecedented rise corresponded with the establishment of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement.

Almost 3,000 divorce applications were granted. This was a 15 per cent rise on 2002. Of the 2,970 divorces granted, 1,032 were in Dublin. This was followed by Cork with 357 and Wexford with 125. Divorces are now being granted in Dublin within six weeks and within a maximum of three months in all other areas.

Some €16 million was collected in fines in the courts in 2003, up by almost €1 million. Some €8.8 million of the 2003 figure related to motoring fines, up from €8.1 million the previous year. The courts held €830 million in funds in 2003 on behalf minors and wards of court.

At the Central Criminal Court, there has been a 60 per cent fall in the number of rape cases since 1999. In 1996, 48 rape cases were dealt with by the court. This figure peaked at 130 cases in 1998 and 1999 before falling back by 60 per cent to 52 new rape cases received last year.

In 2003, 39 murder cases were received by the Central Criminal Court, down from 55 in 2002. At the start of 2003, however, there was a backlog. To clear it and to shorten waiting times for murder and rape cases, four extra judges were assigned to the court by the President of the High Court.

The court also operated special sittings last September and last year sat outside Dublin for the first time with some cases heard in Limerick.

The Special Criminal Court, which primarily deals with cases involving paramilitaries, has seen a significant reduction in cases.

In 1974, at the height of the Troubles in the North, it dealt with 288. This fell to 46 by 1984 and fell further, to 29, in 1994, when the IRA announced its first ceasefire. In 1995, cases before the court fell to 12. Last year nine were heard, the lowest number since the Special Criminal Court was set up in 1972.

A total of 17,880 prison sentences were handed down by the District Court in 2003. This court passes down most prison sentences in the State.

While murder and rape cases fell in 2003, there has been a rise in many other categories since 2001. Some 7,666 larceny cases were dealt with by the courts last year, compared with 4,261 in 2001.

Assault cases also showed a marked rise in the three-year period, from 5,863 cases in 2001 to 9,858 cases in 2003, a near-70 per cent rise.

Despite a significant increase in the value of drugs seized in 2001-03, drugs cases before the courts during that period rose only slightly. In 2001 there were 1,475 such cases, climbing to 1,524 in 2003.

There was also an increase in motoring offences before the courts. Dangerous-driving more than doubled in the period, up to 581 cases in 2003 from 241 in 2001. Drink-driving offences rose marginally, from 1,505 in 2001 to 1,539 in 2003. Cases involving the unauthorised taking of motor vehicles rose to 516, from 293 in 2001.

Civil cases before the courts rose by 11,000, to 87,556, compared with 2002. Much of this is attributable to summary judgment cases or undefended debt or liquidated money demand claims.