The figures make for pretty grim reading.
The vast majority of assaults in Ireland are carried out by males between the ages of 18 and 39 against males of a similar age, according to figures from the Garda Analysis Service.
The figures show that 83% of offenders in assault cases in Ireland are male, that 75% of assault victims are male and that 70% of assaults are male on male.
Perpetrators of assaults tend not to repeat the crime (approximately 3% of offenders are repeat offenders) and there is a very low level of repeat victimisation (approximately 0.6%).
Perhaps not surprisingly, a lot of assaults typically take place in and around public places (street, roads, pubs and hotels) between 8pm and 5am at the weekend.
The figures were released as part of an appeal by An Garda Síochána, ‘Use your brain, not your fists’, to reduce assaults through targeted action.
In the Dublin Metropolitan Region, there was a significant increase in the number of assaults between 2012 and 2015, although assaults nationally have shown a minor decline in 2016.
An Garda Síochána has appealed to young males to think of the consequences for themselves and others of being involved in assaults.
For more information on the appeal, check out An Garda Síochána on Facebook.
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