During the period 1 January to 14 June 1996 a total of 1,288 transfers of prisoners from Mountjoy to other prisons and places of detention took place. In some cases, however, the same prisoner may have been transferred a number of times and the above figure includes those. The institutions to which they were transferred were, Place of Detention Wheatfield, Cork Prison, Portlaoise Prison, Limerick Prison, Arbour Hill Prison, Fort Michel, St. Patrick's Institution, Shelton Abbey, Loughan House, Shanganagh Castle and the training unit.
In addition, prisoners who are accommodated in institutions other than Mountjoy Prison are, following remand appearances in the courts, usually recommitted to Mountjoy Prison. In most cases these prisoners are routinely transferred back to their "original" institution.
These transfers took place for various reasons including, in some cases, the movement of prisoners to institutions nearer their homes to facilitate visits. In other cases offenders who were considered suitable were transferred to one of the "open" prisons.
Regarding the question of temporary release, a number of the prisoners referred to above have been granted some form of temporary release since their transfer. Records are not, however, maintained in such a manner as to identify the precise number falling into this category.
