Vol. 544 No. 3
440 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the circumstances of the temporary release of a person (details supplied) on compassionate grounds; the conditions which were laid down; the report he has received from the relevant gardaí; his views on an article (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29081/01]
While I am reluctant to comment on individual cases, I can inform the Deputy that the person referred to was approved three overnights compassionate temporary release to visit his ill father. This period of temporary release, in common with all such releases, was subject to conditions which included good behaviour during his period of release and that he return to the prison at an appointed time.
I can confirm that temporary release was granted on the understanding that the offender would not be returning to his home area. This was deemed appropriate in this case in order to lessen the possibility of him encountering a relative of the victim while on temporary release. By its nature, this type of temporary release is unsupervised, but I have to say that I am not aware of any evidence that the temporary release in this case was used for any purpose other than that for which it was granted, or that any of the conditions attaching to the temporary release were breached.
