There were 40 male victims (81.6%) and 9 female victims (18.4%) of homicide recorded in 2019 in Ireland, according to data recorded by An Garda Síochána. See Table 1.1 and Figure 1.1.

81.1% of victims of sexual violence recorded in 2019 were females, while 18.9% were males.

59.1% of victims of physical assault and related offences recorded in 2019 were males. 

Statistics in respect of victims are presented in further detail in Recorded Crime Victims 2019.

A person is recorded as a suspected offender when they have been deemed responsible for the crime by An Garda Síochána and have been issued with a sanction such as a charge, summons or caution. Only detected crime incidents can have a recorded suspected offender.

For detected homicide offences in 2018, 87.5% of suspected offenders were males.

98% of suspected offenders of detected sexual violence crimes reported in Ireland in 2018 were male, with just one in 50 suspected offenders being female.

80.5% of suspected offenders of detected physical assaults and related offences in 2018 were males. See Table 1.2 and Figure 1.2.

Statistics in respect of recorded suspected offenders are presented in further detail in Recorded Suspected Offenders 2018.

The relationship between victim and perpetrator – for example whether they were in an intimate relationship, or from the same family, or known to each other at all – is an important characteristic in understanding the context of crimes against persons.

Consistent recording of the precise relationship between victim and suspected offender was not in place for 2018 data and is currently being examined by An Garda Síochána as a data quality opportunity.

Where a victim and suspected offender are recorded for a crime (i.e. for detected incidents) it is possible to link victim and suspected offender to produce a limited profile of the relationship between victim and perpetrator. 

Almost four out of every five (79.8%) detected sexual violence crimes in 2018 involved a male suspected offender and a female victim. See Table 5.1.

Statistics relating to the link between victim and suspected offender are presented in further detail in Linkage between Recorded Victims and Suspected Offenders.

Background

Data presented in this publication is sourced from PULSE, the administrative crime database of An Garda Síochána, and extracted at the beginning of March 2020.

Statistics relating to victims of recorded crime incidents were first published in 2019 and were for the reference period 2016 to 2018. This publication includes statistics for reference year 2019. 

Statistics relating to suspected offenders of detected crime incidents are published for the first time in this publication. Suspected offenders are persons who have been issued a sanction (e.g. charge, summons or caution) in respect of an offence. Data in respect of suspected offenders is presented for crimes recorded in 2018 only in this release, and is possible following the data quality improvements outlined in the Recorded Crime Detection 2018 publication. Figures for reference year 2019 will appear in the next reporting period, to allow time for a sufficient volume of investigations to reach conclusion.

Differences between the numbers of suspected offenders in this publication and the Recorded Crime Detection publication of 3rd December 2019 reflect recorded crime incidents which have become detected in the interim. 

Statistics presented are in respect of a subset of serious crime types against the person. It is intended to expand the range of crime types examined in future iterations of the publication.

Statistics published by the CSO and sourced from PULSE continue to be categorised as Statistics Under Reservation.

These statistics reflect persons linked to crime incidents published in Recorded Crime statistics, and as such do not capture crimes which were not reported to An Garda Síochána by victims. 

Please see full Background Notes for further information.

View tables on Statbank .