Sir, - The tightening of bail laws through the Criminal Law and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2026 is welcome. According to newly-released statistics, 38,000 crimes were committed by people released on bail in 2025. That includes murder, murder threats and attempted murder.
Key changes include restricting bail for those accused of witness/juror intimidation, violating sex-offender notification requirements, coercive control and forced marriage.
These changes aim to mitigate risks from suspects on bail. Proposals include empowering gardaí to attach conditions to station bail and allowing for arrest without a warrant if a bail condition is suspected to be breached. This is long overdue and should have been in place decades ago.
There are recommendations to increase penalties for breaching domestic violence-related court orders to five years’ imprisonment. This will be welcomed by advocates for victims of domestic violence.
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Addressing the reoffending follows a review of bail efficacy, aimed at reducing the high number of offences committed by individuals while on bail. These, alongside existing rules regarding flight risk and serious-offence risk, represent a shift toward more stringent bail conditions in Ireland.
This will be welcomed by victims who have suffered at the hands of offenders following their release on bail. - Yours, etc,
CHRISTY GALLIGAN,
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal.
