Nearly 1,500 offences committed by people on bail in Kilkenny and Waterford in 2025

The Minister for Justice called the offences “totally unacceptable”

Published 12th Feb 2026, 16:00 BST Kilkenny Courthouse The Minister for Justice called the offences “totally unacceptable” Sign up to our Kilkenny Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Kilkenny Live within your account.

Figures released by Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan TD, this week revealed that 1,388 criminal offences were committed by people released on bail across Kilkenny and Waterford last year.

Over 38,000 incidents committed by those on bail occurred nationwide with the majority of these taking place in the Dublin region which saw 22,130 offences in total.

The most commonly recorded category of incident was theft, of which there were 10,104, closely followed by public order offences on 9,879.

READ NEXT: Residents frustrated over Council consultation as Kilkenny housing development progresses - Kilkenny Live

Commenting on the figures, Minister O’Callaghan said: “It is totally unacceptable that offences are committed by people on bail.”

“That is a direct breach of their promise made when bail is granted by the court. While bail laws in Ireland are comprehensive, I am committed to ensuring they are fit for purpose while ensuring fundamental rights principles are adhered to,” he added.

An assessment of bail laws in Ireland was carried out last year and a number of recommendations are under consideration by the Minister’s Department.

“This examination of our bail laws and subsequent proposals underlines the need for additional actions to be taken to ensure the criminal justice system effectively mitigates against risks that may be associated with individuals on bail,” he concluded.

Related topics: Kilkenny Waterford Sign up to our Kilkenny Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Kilkenny Live within your account.