asked the Minister for Justice whether he received a petition to reduce a sentence of imprisonment in a certain case, and whether he rejected the petition; further, whether he subsequently altered his decision in the case, and, if so, the reasons therefor.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Reduction of Imprisonment Sentence.
In the case to which the Deputy refers the prisoner was released a few days before Christmas, 1954. Prior to that several petitions were disallowed as I considered that the time was not ripe for clemency.
Would the Minister state why he did not reply to my letter of the 30th December seeking for the information now requested in this question, and if I made representations why had not his Department the courtesy to inform me that this prisoner was going to be released?
The Deputy made representations in June or July. The other Deputies made representations in September and they received a similar reply to the Deputy that I was not prepared to release him. His wife made an appeal on the 7th December on behalf of her seven children and I considered that it would be unjust to keep him in and punish the seven children.
Arising out of the Minister's further reply, and his suggestion that the wife made representations and pointed out the fact that she had seven children, does the Minister agree that I gave all those salient factors in June? Is it also true that the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, Deputy Keyes, made further representations after I had failed?
The Minister for Posts and Telegraphs made representations on the 23rd September and received a similar reply to that which I sent to the Deputy. I regret if the Deputy sent a letter on the 30th December which did not come before me. The prisoner was released on the 24th or the 20th.
Regarding the letter of the 29th July, 1954, which the Minister sent me and in which he said that he had given full consideration to all the facts and circumstances and was not prepared to interfere with the decision of the court and he regretted that the law must take its course, will the Minister state what new features occurred since?
Christmas.
He had been only three months inside when the Deputy made representations. He was nearly ten months in in December.
Does the Deputy want the man to be put back again?
I want the Deputy to be assured that all the Deputies and public representatives from Limerick who made representations received similar replies.