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Most law-breaking counties in Ireland revealed

Just under 5,300 people were sent to prisons throughout the country in 2020
Eoghan Murphy
Eoghan Murphy

07.16 29 Nov 2021


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Most law-breaking counties in...

Most law-breaking counties in Ireland revealed

Eoghan Murphy
Eoghan Murphy

07.16 29 Nov 2021


Share this article


Longford, Limerick and Dublin are the most law-breaking counties in Ireland.

They had the biggest numbers of people jailed last year per capita.

Just under 5,300 people were sent to prisons throughout the country in 2020.

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Nationally, an average of 89 people 100,000 population were jailed.

A breakdown, based on the home addresses of the criminals, shows which counties have the highest and lowest rates of imprisonment.

Longford is the highest, at 198 people per 100,000 population.

Garda David Conroy, from the Garda Representative Association (GRA), is stationed in Co Longford.

"We put it down to the increase in the density of the population in the county, and the number of high levels of feuding in recent years in the county - with minimum Garda numbers, resulting in some serious offences being detected by very few Gardaí.

"Gardaí are at breaking point at this stage; it's been roared and shouted about about Dublin city centre - but everybody seems to have forgotten about the country where Garda numbers are minimal.

"Basically we're providing fire brigade service".

The next most law-breaking county is Limerick, with a rate of 187.

Then it is Dublin at 118 - while Wexford, Louth and Carlow also have rates of over 100.

Donegal is the most law-abiding county in the country, with a rate of just 42.

The next lowest rates are in Mayo, Leitrim and Offaly.

Main image: A man arrested is seen in handcuffs in April 2016. Picture by: tommaso altamura / Alamy Stock Photo

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Dublin Dublin City Centre Garda David Conroy Garda Numbers Garda Representative Association Law-breaking Counties Limerick Longford Prisons

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