asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons who are serving sentences as a result of convictions for murder or manslaughter who were aged 17 or under at the date on which the offences occurred; the sentence imposed in each case; and the length of time served so far in each case.
Written Answers. - Prisoner Statistics.
589.
Limerick East): A total of seven persons come within the scope of the question. Four are serving sentences for murder. Three of them were sentenced to penal servitude for life. One was 16 years of age at the date of the commission of the the offence in 1973. He was committed to Mountjoy Prison on conviction in November 1973. He was released under the supervision of the Probation and Welfare Service in December 1980. Another was 17¾ years of age at the date of the commission of the offence in 1974. He was committed on conviction to Mountjoy Prison in October 1974. He was released under the supervision of the Probation and Welfare Service in December 1980. Another was 17 years of age at the date of the commission of the offence in 1981. He was committed to Mountjoy Prison on conviction in February 1982 and is at present serving his sentence in Arbour Hill Prison.
The fourth person was found guilty but insane on a charge of murder in 1982. He was 15¾ years of age at the date of the commission of the offence and is at present detained in the Central Mental Hospital in accordance with an order of the Central Criminal Court.
Three are serving sentences for manslaughter. One was 16½ years of age at the date of the commission of the offence in 1981. He was committed to Mountjoy Prison on conviction in November 1981 to serve a sentence of 15 years penal servitude but subsequently the sentence was reduced on appeal to ten years. He will be due for release on remission in May 1989. Another was 17½ years of age on the date of the commission of the offence in 1984. He was committed to St. Patrick's Institution on conviction in November 1984 to serve a sentence of three years detention. He is due to be released on remission in March 1987. The third person is the person mentioned in the reply to Question No. 590 on today's order paper.
590.
asked the Minister for Justice the total number of persons serving sentences under section 103 and 104 of the Children Act; the length of sentence imposed; the offences in respect of which they are imprisoned; and the age of each person at the date on which the offence was committed.
Limerick East): One such person is serving a sentence for manslaughter. He was 15 years of age at the date of the commission of the offence in 1981 and was sentenced in 1982 to four years detention. He is due to be released on remission in July 1985. He is, however, at present on release under the supervision of the Probation and Welfare Service.