asked the Minister for Justice if he will state whether a man sentenced to a month's hard labour for assaulting an officer of the Garda Síochána in County Clare some months ago has had his sentence remitted; and, if so, the reasons for such remission.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Remission of Sentence.
After consideration of a memorial that was submitted on this man's behalf by his solicitor, the Minister for Justice, in exercise of the prerogative of mercy, mitigated the sentence and ordered the discharge of the petitioner from prison, after he had served ten days of his sentence, on payment by him of a monetary penalty of £10.
I consider that it would not be in the public interest that the Minister for Justice should state the grounds for the exercise of the prerogative of mercy in individual cases.