17-07-2025
Alarming rise in rape and sexual assaults in Wexford provide ‘wake-up call' on ‘epidemic of violence against women'
Data obtained on foot of a Freedom of Information Request submitted by Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú has shown a 120% increase in the number of reported rapes and sexual assaults reported in the Wexford Garda Division when compared with 20 years ago.
The figures show that in 2003 the Wexford Garda Division recorded 50 rapes/sexual assaults. The figure for 2024 had more than doubled with 110 recorded incidents in 2024.
In terms of the South East region, Waterford was the only county which saw a higher number of sexual assaults with 126, however, Wexford had seen a higher percentage increase, 120% compared to Waterford's 83%.
Almost all garda divisions saw a notable increase in reported sexual assaults, with Dublin accounting for the highest numbers in 2024, followed by Cork City (194), Galway (171).
The lowest number of reported instances of sexual assault in 2024 came in Sligo/Leitrim with 57, however, this still represented a 111% increase on the figure of 27 from 20 years previously.
Ms Ní Mhurchú also pointed out that, as of May 31, 2025, there were 800 sex offenders in Irish prisons, carrying a cost of almost €80 million annually for the state. The number of sex offenders in Irish prisons had increased by 16% when compared to last year.
The MEP has raised serious concerns about the ability of the Irish Prison system to rehabilitate sex offenders and the 'value for money' of spending €80 million each year 'to house sex offenders that we are not treating'.
She added that the statistics were 'a wakeup call to action' and says that 'it's clear we are dealing with an epidemic of violence against women'.
A former family law barrister herself, Ms Ní Mhurchú has called for a suite of measures to tackle rising violence against women including a review of sentencing for these crimes, advanced training for circuit and district court judges, more consultation with victims, more focused measures to rehabilitate offenders and a thorough investigation 'as to why we've seen a ten-fold increase in the number of rapes and sexual assaults across every county in Ireland'.
She added that she will be seeking an urgent meeting with Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan to discuss what she has termed 'a crisis'.
