Court cases have been dropped against more than 3,000 suspected criminals because of insufficient evidence, official figures revealed today.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) said another 284 people escaped the law over concerns about public interest.

James Hamilton stated a record 16,140 files were received by his office during 2008, with the vast majority relating to criminal cases.

Of 11,274 criminal files examined, a third were sent to the District Court and another third were prosecuted in the Circuit or Central Criminal Court before a judge and jury.

However, he directed that one in three cases be dropped - with 77% found to have insufficient evidence.

Others were dismissed because of the juvenile diversion programme, expired time limit, undue delay and sympathetic grounds.

Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) last week revealed just one in three rapes reported to gardai make it to court - and stated authorities blamed a lack of evidence as the main reason for dropping prosecutions.

The study showed cases where women were attacked by someone they know are also less likely to be prosecuted than assaults in public by a stranger, despite being more common.

Elsewhere, Mr Hamilton said a pilot scheme to give reasons for a decision not to prosecute in cases where there has been a fatality, which was due to end in January, may be extended.

He revealed although it has been running for a year only a small number of requests have been received because of the time lag between an offence being committed, its investigation, the submission of a file and the eventual decision.