Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 2 Dec 1997

Vol. 483 No. 6

Written Answers. - Prisoner Transfers.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

82 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the arrest and imprisonment of a person (details supplied); if the fact that he had already served 21 years of a life sentence in English prisons was taken into account in the decision to arrest and imprison him; the reason he was not arrested for almost a year after his release from prison in England during which time he lived openly at his family home in Redhills, County Cavan; whether it is the case that the average life term served in this State is eight years; and when this person will be given a release date. [20949/97]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the person concerned was released from prison in the UK in January 1996 and that he returned to Ireland in April of that year. Following consultations by the Garda authorities with the State's legal advisers as to the person's legal status on release from prison in the UK, the Garda was advised that the warrant of the Special Criminal Court imposing a sentence of penal servitude for life on him in June 1974, should be executed. The person concerned was duly arrested by gardaí in March 1997 and subsequently lodged in Portlaoise Prison from where he had escaped with others in August 1974.

The average length of sentence served by offenders serving life sentences in recent years is approximately 12 years. It should be stressed however, that each case is dealt with on its merits and the length of time spent in custody by individual offenders serving life sentences can vary substantially.

This prisoner's case is one of a number which is being kept under active review during the current ceasefire.