Waterford had the fifth highest number of burglary offences brought before the Courts in Ireland across the first nine months of 2025.
According to figures released to Fianna Fáil MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú from the Courts Service, a total of 44 people were brought before Waterford District Court for burglary during this period, with an additional 10 people sent forward for trial for burglary offences in the Circuit Criminal Court.
Across Ireland, 1,187 people were brought before the District Court for burglary offences between January and September 2025, with a national total of 347 people sent forward for trial in the Circuit Court.
Ní Mhurchú said that the figures point to “a relatively small group of repeat offenders” who are responsible for a ‘disproportionate’ share of burglary offences. The MEP highlighted that the total number of cases brought before Districts Courts in Ireland across the nine month period in 2025 was 1,771, which involved 1,187 people committing these offences.
Clonmel had the fourth highest number of people brought before the District Court for burglary, at a total of 47. A further 13 people in Clonmel were also sent forward for trial in the Circuit Court during this period in 2025. A total of 37 people appeared before Wexford District Court for burglary, with 7 more appearing in the Circuit Court, along with 26 people being brought before Kilkenny District Court, with 4 being sent to the Circuit Court.
In response to the figures, 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 neighbours property. The MEP highlighted for those in rural parts of the country to be particularly cautious, as the winter months can be ‘peak time’ for burglaries taking place.
The Ireland South MEP concluded by calling for a range of measures to tackle burglary to be implemented, including an end to the practice of letting burglars out on temporary release from prisons, as a total of 38 burglars were on temporary release as of the 23rd of June 2025, according to figures provided by the Irish Prison Service.
Ní Mhurchú 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.
Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
Robyn Power
