asked the Minister for Justice the number of people charged with serious crime in the past five years who have failed to appear in court to answer the charges after being granted bail; and the number who have absconded after being allowed out on compassionate leave.
Written Answers. - Court Appearance.
330.
As regards bail, I am informed by the Garda authorities that the figures sought by the Deputy would have to be specially compiled from records at local level and that their compilation at this stage would involve a great deal of work. I am having further inquiries made as to whether some figures, covering a more restricted period, could be obtained without disproportionate expenditure of time and I shall communicate with the Deputy when the result becomes available.
As regards compassionate leave statistics of the kind sought have been kept only since 1 January last. In the period since then, ten offenders who were released on the occasion of a bereavement or other family occasion did not come back voluntarily to the prison or place of detention.