The number of robberies and attacks on tourists visiting Clare increased sharply last year, according to new figures.
A support service for overseas visitors, who’ve been the victims of crime, saw a 60 percent increase in referrals from Gardai in this county in 2015.
Data from the Irish Tourist Assistance Service shows that the vast majority of crimes against visitors to this country tend to happen in Dublin.
Last year, outside of the capital, the bulk of incidents were reported in Clare and Wicklow.
In this county, Gardai referred 8 incidents to the tourist assistance service – an increase of 60 percent on the previous year.
The figure also represents a steady increase since the support service first started compiling figures in 2011.
That year, just a single case from this county was referred by Gardai.
Last year’s data show that, nationally, the main crime against tourists was theft.
Gardai also referred a number of victims of violent crime, including aggravated theft, assault and robbery.
