Decrease in personal injury compensation awards by 45%, totaling approximately €150 million, reported by Courts Service
In the recently presented Courts Service annual report of 2024, key trends in Irish courts have emerged regarding personal injury awards, new cases, and applications for protection from domestic violence.
The report indicates a significant reduction in the monetary value of personal injury awards, with total awards falling by 45% to approximately €150 million in 2024. This decrease is also reflected in the number of new personal injury cases, which saw a modest drop of 3% from 13,434 in 2023 to 12,989 in 2024.
On a positive note, requests for protection from domestic violence continue at a substantial level. Last year, around 25,000 applications were made, including 314 for anti-stalking orders, marking an increase from the previous year.
The report also highlights a 45 per cent rise over two years in applications for supervision and care orders for children, with 21,684 new applications last year. In addition, there was a 31 per cent increase in debt-recovery cases over the same period, with 22,584 new cases in 2024.
Sixty new cases sought forfeiture of property alleged to represent proceeds of crime, up from 43 in 2023.
The volume of new cases in the Central Criminal Court was 40 per cent higher in 2024, with the Central Criminal Court imposing 434 prison sentences for rape/attempted rape, with 62% of sentences exceeding 10 years. However, the report reveals continued delays in some courts lists, including the Central Criminal Court, where cases on hand fell 16 per cent last year but remain 35 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels.
The report also highlights the continued progress in the service's modernisation programme, including the establishment of 165 technologically-enabled courtrooms and improved information for court users.
These trends reflect ongoing demands on the court system amid changes in case volumes and award levels. The Courts Service's annual report offers valuable insights into the current state and future direction of the Irish court system.
The Courts Service's annual report of 2024 also includes data on trends in other areas, such as science and health-and-wellness. For instance, requests for anti-stalking orders under the category of crime-and-justice witnessed an increase from the previous year, indicating a concern related to personal safety.
Furthermore, the report reveals a significant surge in applications for supervision and care orders for children, which might prompt discussions in the realm of politics and general-news regarding child welfare and policies aimed at ensuring the wellbeing of minors.
