Laois/Offaly has highest increase in sexual assault convictions since 2003

Laois/Offaly has seen the highest increase in rape and sexual assault convictions since 2003, new figures show.

There has been an increase of 255% in rape and sexual assault convictions in Laois/Offaly Garda division. Figures show just 33 convictions for rape and sexual violence cases in 2003, compared to 117 convictions for the same in 2024.

CSO figures show an upward trend in the offence of ‘rape and sexual assault’ across most Garda divisions in Ireland over the past 20 years.

Figures released to Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú under FOI by the Irish Prison Service show that as of Thursday, May 31, 2025, there were 800 sexual offenders in Irish prisons costing the state almost €80 million annually to house.

That is 16% higher than on May 3, 2024, when 692 sexual offenders were jailed in Ireland's prison system. In 2018, there were only 172 sexual offenders in the prisons.

The figures also show that 235 sex offenders were released from Irish Prisons in 2024, an increase of 34% on 2023 when just 175 sex offenders were released from Irish prisons. Up to Thursday, May 31, 2025, 103 sex offenders were released from Irish prisons.