A 20 per cent increase in cases of murder or manslaughter was recorded in the second quarter of this year, compared with the same period in 2006.
Crime statistics published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO)yesterday showed that 19 people died violent deaths in the months from April to June. This compared with 12 such deaths in the second quarter of last year.
Overall, the quarterly crime statistics show an increase of more than 3 per cent in major crime on the same period last year, with a particular upward trend in cases of assault, fraud and drugs offences.
The total number of cases of murder and manslaughter for the 12-month period to the end of June stood at 68, almost 5 per cent more than in the same period last year.
The number of assaults in the April-June period this year increased by 6 per cent on the second quarter of last year.
Assault causing harm accounted for the largest number of cases in this category, with 955 recorded in the last three months, an increase of 3 per cent on the same period in 2006.
Abductions, though small in number at nine cases in the three-month period, showed the greatest increase in the assault category, up 50 per cent on the second quarter in 2006.
The number of drugs offences is increasing sharply, with 1,131 offences recorded in the three-month period this year compared with 886 in that period last year, an increase of 28 per cent.
A similar increase, 30 per cent, was recorded in the 12-month period to the end of June.
Arson cases were up more than 60 per cent on the second quarter of last year, and fraud had risen by 30 per cent.
Crimes which showed a decline included sexual offences, which fell by 5.4 per cent, robberies, down by 26 per cent, and dangerous driving causing death or serious injury, which was down by 38 per cent on the second quarter last year.
Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan said he had discussed the figures with the Garda Commissioner.
"He has advised me that the Garda is undertaking a number of specific, targeted operations directed against particular types of crime in areas where increases have been taking place," Mr Lenihan said.
However, Labour Party spokesman on crime Brendan Howlin said the figures showed the "utter failure" of successive governments to deliver safer streets.
He said crime levels were spiralling upwards, and this needed to be acknowledged and tackled head on by the new Government.
