The State not locking up people who are charged with violent crimes is an “insult” to their alleged victims, Ciara Kelly has argued. 

New figures released to Sinn Féin revealed that suspects in 40,348 crimes were granted bail in 2024 - nearly 5,000 more than in 2022. 

In the Dáil, Mary Lou McDonald said bail laws need to be “examined with urgency” and said the status quo “cannot continue”. 

In reply, Taoiseach Micheál Martin described the Government as “very intolerant of people committing crime”. 

However, he added that he opposes a “wholesale system where everyone who is charged is locked up”.

On Newstalk Breakfast, presenter Ciara Kelly said she is “100%” in agreement with Mary Lou McDonald. 

“We have seen many crimes committed by people who are out on bail,” she said. 

“That is, I think, the State adding insult to injury to the people who are the victims of those crimes. 

“I think a lot of the time, people are released on temporary release or on bail, not because they deserve it but because our prisons are crammed.” 

Cloverhill Prison in Dublin. Picture by: PA Archive/PA Images

Ciara said the current system “isn’t good enough” and that she is “unapologetic” that more people need to go to prison. 

“Keeping the streets safe for law-abiding people is more important than having our prisons pleasant,” she said. 

“I think people should be locked up, not as a deterrent to committing crime but to get them off the streets - so they can’t commit another one. 

“It’s as simple as that.” 

However, Ciara added that not every criminal deserves to go to prison and that there should be more of focus on tackling violent criminals. 

“I don’t believe that a custodial sentence by the way is necessary for every crime,” she said. 

“For violent crimes, take them off the streets, I would have long sentences and I would be tough.” 

A prison vans arrives at the Central Criminal Courts. Photo: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ie

Co-presenter Shane Coleman described Ciara’s view as “simplistic” and unlikely to cut crime. 

“All of the evidence shows that changing bail laws has no impact on crime rates,” he said. 

“I think, if we’re going to act, it should be on robust evidence, not emotion or not anecdotes.” 

Shane added that “lots of people are sent to prison”. 

“You cannot lock up everybody who is charged with something,” he said. 

“All the data, all the research shows it does not make the streets safer; it does not lead to a reduction in crime.”

Main image: A split of Ciara Kelly and a woman in handcuffs. Pictures by: Newstalk and Alamy.com