Burglary statistics highlight high level of repeat offending

Figures show that a total of 28 people were before the courts in Meath in the first nine months of last year for burglary offences. A total of 26 people appeared before Trim District Court on burglary charges, while a further two were sent forward to Trim Circuit Court.

The figures were obtained from the Irish Courts Service by Ireland South MEP and former barrister Cynthia Ní Mhurchú and showed that nationally a total of 1,187 people were before district courts across Ireland for burglary offences in the first nine months of 2025, while a futher 347 people were sent forward for trial in the circuit court for burglary offences in the same period.

She said the figures point to a relatively small group of repeat offenders that are responsible for a disproportionate share of burglary offences. In the first nine months of 2025, 1,771 burglary cases came before the District Court, involving just 1,187 individuals — highlighting a high level of repeat or multiple offending. A similar pattern emerged in the Circuit Court, where 729 burglary cases were tried over the same period, committed by just 529 offenders.

Ní Mhurchú has reiterated Garda calls on people to stop posting holiday pictures on social media, which advertise that they are not at home and also to look out for any suspicious vehicles or activity on their neighbour's property - in particular in very rural parts of the country during the dark winter months – a peak time for the offence of burglary.

She has called for a range of measures to tackle burglary including an end to the practice of letting burglars out on temporary release from our prisons.

The Ireland South MEP has also called for more targeted community supports to protect communities against burglary including a doubling of funding under the Community Safety fund, more funding for community CCTV and consideration to be given to expanding grant aid schemes for security alarms to be installed in the homes of older people, in particular those who are living alone in rural Ireland. The Seniors Alert Scheme provides grant support for the supply of personal alarm equipment but not house alarms.

The Community Safety Fund allows for the proceeds of crime, seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and An Garda Síochána, to be directed back into communities, in order to fund innovative local projects aimed at building stronger, safer communities. According to Ní Mhurchú, community leaders that she interacts with don’t know about the fund.

The €4 million funding works within communities to provide funding for things like diversion programmes for repeat and young offenders, drug awareness programmes, and restorative justice initiatives. There is also a stream of funding for community CCTV projects and Community alert support programmes.

Ní Mhurchú has asked the Department of Justice to inform community groups of the 2026 funding allocation, consider doubling it and advise politicians and community leaders when the funding call opens for applications.